Henricus Hondius (Dutch, 1597–1651) World Map, 1630 From the Novus Atlas This popular baroque-style map was originally designed as a frontispiece to Henricus Hondius’s 1630 revision of the long-lived Mercator Hondius atlas, a work then being challenged by rival map publishers. The decorations include depictions of the four elements—earth, air, fire, and water—and portraits of Julius Caesar and…
Charles Lynn Bragg (American, b. 1952) City Limits, 1986 Charles Lynn “Chick” Bragg’s City Limits teems with flora and fauna while a crowded cityscape, a nuclear power plant, and a bulldozer loom on its horizon. Throughout his art career, his eclectic interests have been connected by a primal thread—environmentalism. This painting imparts that messages loud and clear, and…
Charley Harper (American, 1922–2007) Glacier Bay, Alaska Charley Harper’s paintings have been published by more than 50 nature- and conservation-oriented organizations. Glacier Bay, Alaskas, created for Glacier Bay National Park, was one of ten posters Harper was commissioned to create for the National Park Service. You’ll discover a wealth of flora and fauna—perhaps not noticed at first glance—while…
Charley Harper (American, 1922–2007) Monteverde Cloud Forest Preserve, Costa Rica, 1999 Charley Harper designed more than 50 posters for various natural areas, parks, and conservation organizations, each celebrating a special part of our natural world in the unmistakable and vibrant style Harper called minimal realism. Monteverde promotes the beautiful Monteverde Cloud Forest Preserve in Costa Rica, home to…
Charley Harper (American, 1922–2007) Santa Rosa and San Jacinto Mountains National Monument, California, 2002 California quail trot across a cacti-laden desert, while a cougar peeks out between the horns of a bighorn sheep. A hawk soars above while a rattlesnake slithers out of the scene, below. Spend some time in the desert with Harper’s clever composition,…
Charley Harper (American, 1922–2007) We Think the World of Birds With dazzling color and barely contained energy, Charley Harper’s We Think the World of Birds shows all the birds that live within Sapsucker Woods in Ithaca, New York. Hey wait a minute, you say, the Florida scrub-jay doesn’t live in New York! Okay, so Harper also included a few…
Charley Harper (American, 1922–2007) Beguiled by the Wild Charley Harper—master of the midcentury menagerie—has collected an eclectic ensemble with Beguiled by the Wild. Once published as a black-line drawing in his 1994 book of the same name, this image has been freshly colored in true Harper style—from the behemoth rhinoceros to the littlest leaf. True to form, though…
Charley Harper (American, 1922–2007) The Rocky Mountains Charley Harper’s whimsical paintings have been published by more than 50 nature- and conservation-oriented organizations. The Rocky Mountains, created for Rocky Mountain National Park, was one of ten posters Harper was commissioned to create for the National Park Service. You’ll discover a wealth of floral and fauna—perhaps not noticed at first…
Charley Harper (American, 1922–2007) Woodland Wonders, 1977 A walk in the woods is expertly conceived in Harper’s Woodland Wonders. This image was created for the Cincinnati Nature Center and was his first poster design of over 50 that he would create for nature- and conservation-oriented organizations. As is often the case with Harper’s work, there are critters…
Gustav Klimt (Austrian, 1862–1918) The Kiss, 1908–1909 Produced at the height of Gustav Klimt’s gold period, The Kiss has become the artist’s most recognizable work. This lovers’ embrace, amid a wildflower meadow, retains its allure more than a century after it was painted. In piecing together The Kiss, you may discover details in this well-known image that could give…
Antique quilts are deeply valued works of art. A jury of quilt experts selected the Hexagon Mosaic, in the collection of the International Quilt Museum, as one of the hundred best American quilts of the 20th century. From designer Albert Small’s six templates, each no larger than a dime, prolific quiltmaker Grace Snyder created her…
Robert Bissell The Buffalo, 2016 A polar bear swimming amidst tropical sea horses and sunbeams? Part magical realism, part climate change narrative, Robert Bissell’s The Buffalo, featured on this 1000-piece jigsaw puzzle, reflects on the interconnectedness of our multidimensional world. Bissell’s explorations of zoomorphism—portraying humans as non-humans (often bears)—prompt us to ponder the environment, death and renewal,…
Rosalind Wise (British, b. 1949) Flower Cycle Rosalind Wise’s spectacular Flower Cycle—painted on a canvas nearly seven feet high and eight feet wide—overflows with colorful blooms so fresh and delicately detailed, one can almost sense their fragrance. The composition of the painting is based on the seasons: the snowdrop, appears at the center, around which circle spring and…
Tamara Madden was renowned for featuring Black women of the African diaspora in elaborate headdresses and lavish ensembles, and Her Coat of Many Colours is no exception. Madden’s mixed media technique brings this artwork to life: her use of muted colors in the background allows the different elements of the patchwork coat to dazzle the eye and…
Vincent van Gogh (1853–1890) Van Gogh’s Bedroom at Arles, 1889 Vincent van Gogh (1853–1890) invested his paintings with fearless color and singular eloquence. His portraits, landscapes, interiors, and still lifes transform the familiar into the exceptional, each one a masterful expression of the painter’s passion. This painting of his bedroom at Arles, France, is a prime…
CJ Hurley believes art should be a regular fixture in daily life. With the goal of creating living environments that celebrate family, lifestyle, and architecture, his interior designs incorporate intricately constructed natural elements. In his striking paintings, like the one featured on this puzzle, Hurley focuses on the natural world, and his passion for color…