Famous artists in the history of art

Art by famous artists

When we talk about ‘famous artists’, it quickly becomes clear that there is no definitive list. Fame in the art world always depends on the historical context, cultural perspective and, often, social trends. Some classical artists were celebrated during their lifetimes, whilst others, such as Vincent van Gogh, were only recognised long after their deaths. Furthermore, art history has been heavily focused on Europe, and many significant works from other parts of the world or by women went unnoticed for a long time, meaning there are far more interesting artists than those who are generally well-known. The selection of famous artists we present here is therefore only a small sample of the vast diversity of art history, yet these are artists one should be familiar with. This list of well-known painters is intended to give an impression of how differently artists lived, worked and shaped the world of art – from the Renaissance through Impressionism to Surrealism. Each of the names featured represents a distinct era, a unique style and a special story that continues to have an impact to this day.

Vincent van Gogh

The Dutch artist Vincent van Gogh (1853–1890) is regarded as one of the most famous artists of the 19th century. With his unmistakable, colour-rich style, he had a decisive influence on modern art – even though he received little recognition during his lifetime. In just around ten years, he created almost 2,000 works, including world-famous paintings such as ‘Starry Night’, ‘Sunflowers’ and numerous self-portraits. Tragically, Van Gogh spent his life in poverty and only became an icon of art history long after his death.

Pablo Picasso

Pablo Picasso was born in Málaga, Spain, in 1881 and is today regarded as one of the most influential artists of the 20th century. With an estimated 50,000 works – ranging from paintings and prints to sculptures – he left behind an impressive body of work. He is best known as a co-founder of Cubism, a movement that completely broke with traditional perspectives. Works by Pablo Picasso such as ‘Guernica’ and ‘Les Demoiselles d’Avignon’ vividly demonstrate just how profoundly he transformed the art world.

Claude Monet 

Hardly any painter epitomises Impressionism as much as Claude Monet (1840–1926). The famous artist turned his back on the academic style of art and instead experimented with light, colour and quick brushstrokes. His painting ‘Impression, Sunrise’ gave the whole movement its name. Monet spent his final decades in Giverny, where he created his famous garden – the inspiration for many of his “Water Lilies” paintings, which are now among the world’s most famous works of art. If you’d like to find out more about Monet, his art and his life, you can read on here.

Leonardo da Vinci

Leonardo da Vinci (1452–1519) was far more than just a painter – he is still regarded today as the universal genius of the Renaissance. Alongside groundbreaking anatomical studies, technical designs and architectural plans, he created paintings that remain among the most famous in the world. The ‘Mona Lisa’ and ‘The Last Supper’ are just two of Leonardo da Vinci’s works of art that have made art history. His ability to combine science and art makes him a unique figure in human history.

Michelangelo Buonarroti

Michelangelo (1475–1564) is also regarded as a popular artist. He was a contemporary of Leonardo da Vinci and is likewise counted among the greatest artists of the Renaissance. Although he saw himself primarily as a sculptor, he also created masterpieces of painting and architecture. His monumental decoration of the ceiling of the Sistine Chapel in the Vatican – including the fresco ‘The Creation of Adam’ – is world-famous. Furthermore, sculptures such as the ‘Pietà’ and ‘David’ bear witness to his unrivalled mastery of sculpture.

Salvador Dalí

Eccentric, brilliant and provocative: this is how we know Salvador Dalí (1904–1989), the Spanish co-founder of Surrealism and renowned artist. Salvador Dalí’s artworks combine an almost photographic painting technique with dreamlike, bizarre motifs. Perhaps his best-known work is “The Persistence of Memory” – featuring the iconic “melting” clocks. You can find out more about the background to this work here. Dalí staged himself just as artfully as his works, which made him one of the most colourful personalities in modern art.

Frida Kahlo

When people talk about the art and ‘artists’ of the 15th to 20th centuries, female artists’ names are rarely mentioned. This is by no means because women did not paint in the past, but is simply due to the fact that their art received little or no attention (unfortunately, the same is true of the art of non-Europeans). One artist who nevertheless stands out is Frida Kahlo (1907–1954). Frida Kahlo’s artworks are often characterised by pain, illness and personal fate, which is why many recognise a brutal honesty in them. Her fascinating life story and its influence on her art are explored in more detail here. Her intense self-portraits, in particular, with their striking unibrow, are world-famous. Today, Kahlo is regarded not only as a major artist of the Surrealist movement, but also as a feminist icon who has had a lasting influence on popular culture.

The ‘best painter in the world’ – who decides that?

There is no clear-cut answer to this question. Who should make this subjective decision? In art, there is no right or wrong. Art thrives on diversity, personal preferences and cultural perspectives. What is an unrivalled masterpiece to one person may seem unremarkable to others. That is why ‘the best painter’ is always a subjective assessment – dependent on taste, the spirit of the times and also on the culture or era from which one makes this judgement.

Nevertheless, there are many well-known painters and paintings by famous artists who have gained worldwide renown and whose works continue to enjoy the highest acclaim to this day. Paul Cézanne is regarded as the ‘father of modern painting’ and, with his landscapes and still lifes, influenced entire generations of artists. Auguste Renoir shaped Impressionism with his colourful, lifelike scenes, whilst Henri Matisse became known as a leading exponent of Fauvism with his bold colours and clear forms. Edvard Munch created one of the most iconic paintings of all time with ‘The Scream’, and Gustav Klimt captivated audiences with his gleaming gold Art Nouveau works such as ‘The Kiss’. Paul Gauguin, who spent much of his life in Tahiti, also created exotically inspired paintings that broadened the horizons of European art.

Other famous artists include Marc Chagall, who shaped modern art with his colourful, dreamlike motifs, and Paul Klee, whose playful, almost childlike works are full of symbolic power. Jan Vermeer is also a well-known painter, particularly famous for ‘Girl with a Pearl Earring’, and is considered one of the most important painters of the Dutch Baroque period. Here you can find out more about this world-famous painting and the story behind it. 

Friedensreich Hundertwasser made a name for himself with his colourful architecture and paintings, whilst Andy Warhol became an icon of Pop Art with works such as the Campbell’s soup tins. Rembrandt van Rijn is regarded as the master of light and portraiture in the Baroque period, whilst Caspar David Friedrich expressed the longing and melancholy of an entire era through Romantic landscapes such as ‘Wanderer Above the Sea of Fog’.