What does that really mean when we hear about the “greatest” of all time? What does the title earn someone? Was it pure brilliance and creativity? A tough job and perseverance? There are a lot of incredible painters in the history of painting. Yet there are those that rise among the others by a hair and have built an enduring legacy that continues far past their lifespan.
Who are the best painters of all time, then? They are not only theoretically skilled, but many of these individuals have made major contributions that have altered modern civilization. Since they challenged limits and made surprising creations, all of these artists were considered avant-garde. During their lifetimes, most were still considered geniuses and enjoyed unprecedented success, while others were not remembered until after their deaths.
LEONARDO DA VINCI
Leonardo da Vinci not only played with mediums but also innovated in numerous ways to create striking compositions. In fact, his signature triangular composition is still used today and is commonly recognized as one of the layouts in painting that is most visually appealing. He was also an early advocate of researching anatomical models, something which was illegal at the time, to refine his craft.
ARTEMISIA GENTILESCHI
Artemisia Gentileschi produced dynamic and explosive paintings in the 17th century, showcasing her signature chiaroscuro and rich colours. While her Baroque peer Caravaggio often overshadowed her work, her extraordinary talent and involvement in pioneering female artists have come to be recognized over time.
MICHELANGELO
While Michelangelo may have called himself a sculptor, his inclusion on this list reveals his true talent. While very few paintings by Michelangelo exist, those that do are considered some of the world’s finest. In both the Sistine Chapel Ceiling and The Last Judgment, which continue to inspire artists today, his ability to easily master fresco painting and push it to new heights is clear.
VINCENT VAN GOGH
Vincent van Gogh was not financially successful in his lifetime, even though he is seen today as one of the most influential painters of Western art. However, his masterful portraits have been prized for their expressive emotions since the early 20th century. The artwork of the Post-Impressionist master, packed with dynamic brushstrokes and bright colours, is a guide to contemporary art.
PABLO PICASSO
Pablo Picasso is arguably one of the most recognizable figures in Western art in a wide-ranging profession that passes through many forms. In the history books, his role in initiating Cubism may have been enough to secure his place, but Picasso did even more. He is known for teaching how to learn, and then exploit, classical art to become something different, original, and contemporary.
Rembrandt
He is widely considered one of the best visual artists in the history of art and the most important in the history of Dutch art, as a creative and prolific master of three arts. Rembrandt’s paintings represent a diverse variety of styles and topics, from portraits and self-portraits to landscapes, narrative images, allegorical and historical scenes, and biblical and mythological themes, as well as animal studies, unlike other Dutch masters of the 17th century. In a time of great prosperity and cultural success that historians term the Dutch Golden Age, his contributions to art came when Dutch art (especially Dutch painting) was extremely prolific and creative, albeit in many respects antithetical to the Baroque style that ruled Europe, and gave birth to significant new genres. Rembrandt was also an enthusiastic art collector and dealer, like many artists of the Dutch Golden Age, such as Jan Vermeer of Delft.
FRIDA KAHLO
Her incredibly personal self-portrait series and her celebration of her cultural roots are just some of the aspects that make Frida Kahlo one of the 20th century’s greatest painters. She has become a symbol of pop culture today, but this does not outweigh her brilliant talent as a painter and her inventions to introduce a larger audience to Mexican culture. For contemporary artists, her intensely intimate self-portraits often point to a different direction, where the painting was about expressing inner feelings instead of seeking to impress a collector or patron.
TAMARA DE LEMPICKA
The Polish artist, Tamara de Lempicka, was an early 20th-century superstar. She turned away from Impressionism, the common trend of the period, rubbing elbows with the avant-garde in Paris, and concentrated on blazing her own trail. Her work’s graphic quality and its rich, bright colours made her a pioneer in Art Deco painting. Today, her art continues to be used by artists as inspiration and is emblematic of this Golden Age.
CLAUDE MONET
Claude Monet is probably the most beloved of all Impressionist painters, from taking his easel out of the gallery and into the world to his landmark observations of time and light. Indeed, Sunrise is credited with initiating the entire art revolution with his painting Impression.
