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Link: http://geoguessr.com/

This is a game where you are plotted somewhere in the world, and you must guess where exactly you are, using Google Maps.  The concept is simple, but as it is a very recent game (it was created merely days ago), there are some odd quirks I've noticed with it so far:

1. Some places show up.  A lot.  These include: -Australia -northern Norway -Brazil -British Columbia -European-side Russia

2. There seem to be a finite number of places that can be given to you at the moment.  I've had repeats a few times. 

3. While it is because the engine uses Google Street View, a few locations are annoying because there are invisible walls around, and in trying to move around to pinpoint my location, I keep running into them, especially in urban areas where it is clear the "street" is mostly used by pedestrians.  Personally, I'd prefer not to be placed there...

http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Template:Nikolai_Gogol

This entry is going to be different than usual, since the source I used to find the backstory behind this painting sums it better than I possibly could.  All I have to say is that this dog is cute, and the inspirational story is quite touching, even if the actual dog had disappeared by the time this painting was created.  Also, if you are into paintings of dogs, a link below to the source, which has other Landseer works, has a good collection.

"Dated 1831. The most famous of all Landseers. On the painting is Paul Pyr bred by Mr. Phillip Bacon and belonging to Landseer’s cousin. A Stately white dog with a black head and small blaze, waiting to be of assistance to the unwary. The work first exhibited in 1838. The distinguished dog in the painting is supposed to be "Bob" according to legend, he was shipwrecked off the coast of England. As a stray, he became well-known along the London waterfront saving people from drowning, There were twenty-three rescues recorded spanning fourteen years, He was declared a distinguished member of the Royal Humane Society which not only entitled him to a medal, but also to food every day. When Sir Edwin Landseer decided to paint Bob in 1837, the dog could not be located, Another Newfoundland, whom Landseer had seen walking down a street in London carrying a message for his mistress, posed for the painting. His name was Paul Pry. Paul Pry was taken to the artist's studio and placed on a table in the position that we see him in the picture, The artist has placed the faithful dog against a simple background; a dull threatening sky, The light falls beautifully on his white coat. We can almost feel his thick, soft fur and hear him breathe, His dark head stands out against the lightest part of the sky, Sea gulls are flying about. The water laps against the stone block where the iron ring is fastened, The picture is quiet, but there is a feeling that something is about to happen, should there be a cry for help, Bob would be off to save!"

In 1908, Georges Braque made a painting reducing every major object in a scene of a French city to simple geometric shapes. The resulting painting was criticized by noted critic Louis Vauxcelles (who had earlier coined the phrase "Fauvism") derided the houses as "cubes."  And thus, Cubism as an art movement was born.

This triptych (basically, a painting with three parts to it) is one of the more famous works of Bosch.  It is also not a John Constable painting (whose title splits the word Haywain into two).  Here, you can see a separate painting on the outside portion, when the panels are closed.  This figure is extremely similar to one depicted in another Bosch painting, The Wayfarer (pictured below).

The triptych itself, however, is similar in narrative to Bosch's most famous triptych, The Garden of Earthly Delights.  Basically, you first have a scene showing the story of Adam and Eve:

It's hard to see with such little resolution (I suggest looking this painting up yourself), but here, the narrative, broken up into four parts, is read from the top down. First, you have God expelling angels out of heaven, and the angels turning into insects as they fall.  Secondly, the creation of Eve is shown. The third scene shows the serpent tempting Eve with the forbidden fruit, and the final scene is the expulsion from Eden.

In the center panel, the titular haywain is shown with many people reveling around it. Jesus Christ appears above the scene, but only a singular figure is looking up at him or even acknowledging him - the angel in white, who is on top of the wagon. The procession, which is being led by demonic figures, moves to the right, leading the viewer's eye to the right wing...

...which is a depiction of hell, where the people following the procession of the haywain will end up.  If you haven't guessed, the entire work is an allegory showing the result of sin and loss of Christian faith. A lot of fucked-up shit happens in this panel, and I could probably go on for awhile trying to describe each one, but I won't.  I think the image itself is memorable enough.

This is one instance where quizbowl baffles me some. I highly doubt this is Miro's best-known work in the art historian world, and it's not quite indicative of his surrealist style (of which is he known for) and is probably the least exciting out of all of the Miro paintings I've seen. I'll post about some of those at some point.

It has occurred to me that I'm failing to give a relative timeline and art movement of the artworks I'm blogging about.  Whoops.

To make up for that, I'll tell you about this painting straightaway!  Painted in 1918-19, this painting belongs to the German Expressionism/New Objectivity movement, and is another grisly scene - you can clearly tell that a man is being murdered, a woman has been raped, and someone is being kidnapped.