Question 1

What is the story behind KAWS?

Accepted Answer

KAWS is an American artist, toy and clothing designer. Born in New Jersey under the name Brian Donnelly, he became interested in graffiti very early on. He earned a BFA and began working for Disney. His artwork gained popularity and he began traveling and designing toys and clothing while continuing art and sculptures. On 1stDibs, find a variety of original artwork from top artists.

Question 2

What is the meaning behind a mandala?

Accepted Answer

The meaning of a mandala relates to Buddhist and Hindu religious beliefs. According to these traditions, the mandala represents the universe and symbolizes how suffering can be a pathway to joy. The act of creating a mandala is meant to remind the artist of the fleetingness of material possessions as well. On 1stDibs, explore a large selection of fine art.

Question 3

Who is the designer behind Chloé?

Accepted Answer

Gabriela Hurst is the designer for the French luxury fashion house Chloé. She became the label's Creative Director in 2020. Previous designers for the label include Natacha Ramsay-Levi, Clare Waight Keller, Hannah MacGibbon and Karl Lagerfeld. On 1stDibs, shop a collection of Chloé apparel and accessories.

Question 4

Who is the artist behind KAWS?

Accepted Answer

The artist behind KAWS is Brian Donnelly. As a kid in Jersey City, New Jersey, he got into graffiti art, using KAWS as his tag. Today, KAWS creates a diverse range of art and design objects. There are KAWS figures and toys, sculptures, colorful drawings, paintings and prints that appropriate pop phenomena like the Smurfs, the Simpsons and SpongeBob SquarePants. On 1stDibs, shop a range of KAWS art.

Question 5

Who is the famous graffiti artist SEEN?

Accepted Answer

The famous graffiti artist SEEN is Richard “Richie” Mirando. Hailing from the Bronx, New York, he and his United Artists (UA) crew were some of the first to popularize painting on trains. Known as the “Godfather of Graffiti,” SEEN began spray-painting trains on the New York subway at the age of 11 in 1972. For the next 16 years, SEEN pieces were running across the city and were especially prominent on the 2, 5 and 6 lines. He was responsible for dozens of whole-car top-to-bottoms, many of which have become iconic images of the time. During the early 1980s, SEEN started producing work on canvas, which has been exhibited across the globe. On 1stDibs, explore a collection of SEEN art.

Question 6

What is the story behind Hamilton watches?

Accepted Answer

The story behind Hamilton watches goes back to the late 19th century. As railroad tracks were laid across the United States and steam locomotives began traversing vast distances, the American railroad system ran into a problem. Time was not standardized across the country.

Therefore, in 1883, the railroad companies established the four time zones as we know them today. However, train conductors were not always synchronized, leading to deadly railroad accidents. Enter watchmaker Hamilton, founded in 1892. Railway workers would be required to wear a pocket watch to keep on schedule, and the watchmaking industry — especially pocket-watch manufacturers such as Hamilton — benefitted. The company’s timepieces eventually earned the moniker “The Watch of Railroad Accuracy.”

Hamilton transitioned from pocket watches to wristwatches in 1914, as it supplied timepieces to American troops fighting in World War I. The new style of watch also appealed to aviators, and Hamilton aeronautical watches became all the rage among pilots, particularly those flying for the new U.S. Airmail service.

The general public’s interest in Hamilton watches grew rapidly in the 1920s. Legendary polar explorer Admiral Richard E. Byrd timed his historic flights over glaciers and chunks of sea ice with a Hamilton pocket watch in the late 1920s. Hamilton’s Piping Rock watch, an Art Deco-inspired design featuring elegant Roman numerals set in black for the hour markers, debuted in 1928 and was gifted to the New York Yankees to celebrate their World Series win that year. The model was also featured in the film Shanghai Express alongside the brand’s Flintridge watch, further expanding Hamilton’s popularity. (Hamilton watches can also be seen in the films The Frogmen, Blue Hawaii, 2001: A Space Odyssey and Men in Black.) In the second half of the 20th century, Hamilton became well known for several innovations: It developed the first-ever battery-operated electric watch, the Ventura, in 1957, as well as the first-ever digital wristwatch, the Hamilton Pulsar Time Computer, in 1970. Three years later, superspy James Bond donned a Pulsar in Live and Let Die.

Today, the company is part of the Swatch Group, and its headquarters and production facilities relocated from Pennsylvania to Switzerland in 2003.

On 1stDibs, find a wide range of Hamilton watches.

Question 7

What is the story behind Louis Vuitton?

Accepted Answer

The story behind Louis Vuitton is one of craft and innovation in the worlds of fashion, jewelry and furniture. The company's modest origins can be traced back to when its founder, Louis Vuitton, left his provincial French city of Anchay in the early 1830s to make a new life in Paris. When he arrived, he toiled as a box maker and packer for more than a decade and built relationships with royals and members of the upper class while working for the empress of France, Eugénie de Montijo. In 1854, Vuitton launched his namesake company with a humble workshop on rue Neuve des Capucines and advertised his services with a small poster that read: "Securely packs the most fragile objects. Specializing in packing fashions." Long before his brand would become known globally for its exemplary top-handle bags and stylish totes, Vuitton produced stackable and rectangular trunks. The most common trunks of the era were round, which weren't ideal for toting and storing. In 1858, Vuitton debuted his lightweight, handcrafted canvas trunks, which were sturdy, rugged and equipped with convenient compartments. Travel's popularity broadened in the late 19th century, and Vuitton's trunks could easily be packed into train cars and ships; upright trunks offered hanging wardrobe storage that would allow his clients to transport their sophisticated garments without worry. Demand increased, and the company grew. When Louis Vuitton died in 1892, control of the luxury house was passed onto his only son, Georges Vuitton. In 1914, a Louis Vuitton store opened at 70 Champs-Élysées. The largest travel-goods store in the world at the time, it became the company's flagship. Today, the fashion house remains one of the most iconic producers of leather goods in the world. Find a diverse assortment of Louis Vuitton bags on 1stDibs.

Question 8

What is the main idea behind Surrealism?

Accepted Answer

The main idea behind Surrealism is to enable subconscious creativity.

Question 9

What do I put behind a curved couch?

Accepted Answer

What you put behind a curved couch is largely a matter of personal preference. Place a table lamp behind one to provide task lighting or position a large sculpture or tall potted plant behind it to add interest to your space. Shop a collection of antique and vintage curved couches on 1stDibs.

Question 10

What is the story behind the Japanese cat?

Accepted Answer

The story behind the Japanese cat traces back to ancient folklore. In the tale, a cat saves the life of a samurai who turns out to be quite wealthy. To show his thanks, the man made a very generous donation to the temple. In Japanese culture, cat sculptures and figurines are symbols of good luck and known as “maneki-neko.” Find a range of Japanese decorative objects on 1stDibs.

Question 11

What's the story behind Balenciaga?

Accepted Answer

The story behind Balenciaga begins with Cristóbal Balenciaga.

As a child in the quiet fishing village of Getaria in Spain's Basque region, he worked alongside his seamstress mother. Showing immense talent, he earned commissions as a teenager from local patron Marquesa de Casa Torres, who paid for his tailoring education in Madrid.

In 1917, Balenciaga established his first fashion house, named Eisa, for his mother, in the trendy resort town of San Sebastián. He soon followed it with boutiques in Madrid and Barcelona, drawing such clientele as the Spanish royal family. When the Spanish Civil War put a hold on his prospects in Spain, the designer moved to Paris, opening a house on Avenue Georges V in 1937.

Balenciaga continued designing until 1968, when he retired after three decades of influential work and his fashion house went dormant. The rights to Balenciaga were acquired by Jacques Bogart SA in 1986. Under designer Michel Goma, who focused on ready-to-wear, the brand experienced a resurgence, with his first collection introduced in 1987.

Find a large selection of Balenciaga apparel and accessories on 1stDibs.

Question 12

What is the table behind a couch called?

Accepted Answer

The table behind a couch is called a console. A console is usually about the same length and height as the sofa and has one or several shelves.

Question 13

What is the table behind a sofa called?

Accepted Answer

A sofa table is a long and narrow table that’s designed to sit behind a couch. They are also called console tables and hall tables because their thin nature makes them great accent pieces in these places as well. Shop a collection of furniture from some of the world’s top sellers on 1stDibs.

Question 14

What is the meaning behind the Claddagh ring?

Accepted Answer

The Claddagh ring has been around for centuries with a long and rich history of friendship, loyalty and love. The classic design features two hands supporting a heart topped with a crown that signifies strong friendships. You’ll find a variety of Claddagh rings on 1stDibs.

Question 15

What is the meaning behind the Portrait of Dora Maar?

Accepted Answer

The meaning behind the Portrait of Dora Maar is subject to personal interpretation. However, many art historians believe the abstracted portrait represents the turmoil and emotional suffering people endured during the Spanish Civil War. Pablo Picasso witnessed the horrors of the war firsthand, and the experience likely influenced his work. On 1stDibs, shop a collection of Pablo Picasso art.

Question 16

What is the piece of furniture behind a desk called?

Accepted Answer

The piece of furniture behind a desk is usually called a credenza. It typically features cabinets and drawers for storing and organizing paperwork and office supplies. The word credenza originates from Italian and means trust or belief. During the 16th century, Italian rulers and high-ranking clergy often had tasters perform a credenza, sampling food or drink to ensure that it wasn't poisoned. Historians believe that the room where this testing took place became called "the credenza," and that eventually the term got applied to cabinets where tasting supplies were kept within the room, leading to its association with the modern office cabinet. Explore a diverse assortment of credenzas on 1stDibs.

Question 17

What is the real story behind Big Eyes?

Accepted Answer

The real story behind Big Eyes is the life of artist Margaret Keane. She was born Peggy Doris Hawkins on September 15, 1927, in Nashville, Tennessee. When she was two years old, her eardrum was permanently damaged during a mastoid operation. Keane learned to watch the eyes of the person talking to her to understand them, influencing the drawings he began creating as a child. At age 10, she took classes at the Watkins Institute in Nashville. At age 18, she attended the Traphagen School of Design in New York City for a year. She initially earned money by painting clothing and baby cribs in the 1950s until she began painting portraits. Early on, Keane experimented with kitsch. She began painting her signature "Keane eyes" when she started to create portraits of children. Keane's works are now in collections all over the world, including the Museum of Contemporary Art in Madrid, the National Museum of Western Art in Tokyo and the Memphis Brooks Museum in Memphis, Tennessee. On 1stDibs, shop a diverse assortment of Margaret Keane art.

Question 18

What is the meaning behind Aya Takano's art?

Accepted Answer

The meaning behind Aya Takano's art is open to interpretation. Soon after obtaining her art bachelor's degree, Takano became an assistant of Takashi Murakami and joined Kaikai Kiki, the artistic community and production studio created in 2001 by Murakami for like-minded artists working in the Superflat style. The Superflat movement, popularized by Murakami, emphasizes the two-dimensionality of figures influenced by Japanese manga and anime while simultaneously exposing the fetishes of Japanese consumerism, including the infantilization and objectification of women. With this reference in mind — as well as inspiration ranging from erotic Edo prints and Gustav Klimt to Claude Monet and the manga of Osamu Tezuka — Takano creates her own mythology from a feminine perspective. On 1stDibs, shop a variety of Aya Takano art.

Question 19

What is the meaning behind Comme des Garçons?

Accepted Answer

The meaning behind Comme des Garçons relates to the signature style the brand's founder, Rei Kawakubo, is known for. In French, the brand's name means "like the boys." It relates to Kawakubo's androgynous styles with asymmetrical, twisted silhouettes that envelope the body. While she once told the New York Times that the “basics of clothing lie in men’s fashion,” Kawakubo believes in the concept of humanness in clothes (she titled her spring 1995 show “Transcending Gender”). On 1stDibs, shop a selection of Comme des Garçons apparel and accessories.

Seen From Behind

1920s Post-Impressionist Portrait Paintings

Ernest LaurentWomen seen from behind, 1920

1950s Modern Figurative Drawings and Watercolors

Milton AveryStanding Nude seen from Behind, circa 1950

20th Century Surrealist Figurative Drawings and Watercolors

Ulf LindeHompage Magritte, Called Woman Seen From Behind, Original Gouache, c.1970-1980

Late 20th Century Impressionist Figurative Paintings

Roberto GherardiNude seen from behind by Roberto Gherardi - Oil on canvas 22x34 cm, 1980

Vintage 1930s Danish Art Deco Decorative Bowls

Early Just Andersen Art Deco Bronze Bowl, Approx, 1930

Early 1900s Modern Landscape Paintings

Giovan Battista FilosaThe Return from Fishing - Oil Paint by Giovan Battista Filosa - 1908, 1908

Antique 15th Century and Earlier Italian Classical Roman Pendant Necklaces

18kt Yellow Gold And Silver Bronze Roman Coin 244-249 A.D.

1950s Figurative Prints

Massimo Campigli, 1895-1971Donne a Ischia - Lithograph - 1952, 1952

Antique Early 1900s Danish Drawings

Sophus Paulsen (1883-1935), Danish painter. Pencil drawing. Girls by a desk.

Early 1900s Modern Figurative Drawings and Watercolors

Woman Silhouette - Original Pencil Drawing - 1900s, 1900s

Mid-20th Century Belgian Prints

Paul DELVAUX, Little station square, Saint Idesbald - Framed - 1963 Belgium

Mid-20th Century Impressionist Figurative Drawings and Watercolors

The Little Ballerina - Figurative Drawing in Pencil on Paper, mid 20th Century

1960s Abstract Expressionist Figurative Paintings

Bob PeakFootball Team Sports Action Painting Abstract Expressionism, Sports Illustrated, 1963

Vintage 1920s Prints

Vincent van Gogh – The Reaper – 1928 Portfolio Print from Dutch Period

Mid-20th Century Photography

George TiceTwo Amish Boys, Lancaster, Pennsylvania, 1962 (printed July 3, 2015)

Early 2000s French Shoes

Green and ink blue leather boots by John Galliano for Christian Dior Circa 2000

1940s Contemporary Black and White Photography

Horst P. HorstMainbocher Corset. Paris. Printed later, 1990- 2010

1620s Old Masters Nude Drawings and Watercolors

Giovanni Francesco Barbieri (Il Guercino)Leaning Nude Man (recto); Kneeling Man, Hands Tied Behind His Back (verso), circa 1625

1930s Drawings and Watercolor Paintings

Circa 1930 ink poster project, titled "Modes" Art deco fashion, Circa 1930

21st Century and Contemporary Abstract Impressionist Landscape Paintings

Linda ClergetAcrylic on board : 'One Last Wave' by Linda Clerget, 2023

1930s American Modern Figurative Prints

Thomas Hart BentonDown the River, 1939

2010s Japanese Artisan Chandelier Earrings

sucabiosa tsubomi earring / vintage jewelry , vintage pearl, plants jewelry

21st Century and Contemporary Expressionist Nude Paintings

SOPHIE DUMONTRêveries, Female nude, Oil, figurative, Contemporary Expressionism, French Art, 2016

2010s Other Art Style Figurative Prints

Marian BocianowskiA bike. Contemporary figurative print, A couple, Satire, Polish artist, 2009

Antique 17th Century French Louis XIII Drawings

CALLOT - Set of 6 engravings Les Gueux - framed - 17th - Jacques CALLOT - France

Mid-20th Century Expressionist Nude Paintings

Robert RoujasLying Nude Study Oil Painting by Robert Roujas, mid 20th Century

Mid-20th Century American Modern Nude Paintings

Leon DussoClassic Vertical Nude - Mixed Media by Leon Dusso

2010s Contemporary Mixed Media

Eleanor AldrichLAWN CHAIR ON THE BEACH - Textural Figure Painting with oil, enamel and silicone, 2020

2010s Contemporary Mixed Media

Eleanor AldrichON THE ICE - Textural figure painting - Oil and Enamel on Canvas Red, Polka-Dot, 2020

2010s Contemporary Figurative Paintings

Eleanor AldrichIN THE ROAD - Textural Figure Painting - Oil and Enamel on Panel - Light Blue, 2020

2010s Abstract Impressionist Abstract Paintings

Mougenot NatalyaAbstract figurative acrylic painting on paper "Woman in a turquoise dress", 2024

2010s Contemporary Figurative Paintings

Eleanor AldrichTHE CRACKED MIRROR - oil and enamel and canvas on canvas- textural, figurative, 2020

2010s Contemporary Mixed Media

Eleanor AldrichTHE BLACK CAT - Textural figurative painting, woman reclining with black cat, 2020

2010s Mixed Media

Eleanor AldrichZIG ZAG HAMMOCK - oil, enamel and silicone on canvas- pink, blue, tan texture, 2020

2010s Contemporary Mixed Media

Eleanor AldrichFIGHTING IRISH (Red Stripes) - Textural painting with ceramic inlay, enamel, 2020

2010s Contemporary Mixed Media

Eleanor AldrichLAWN CHAIR WITH MARBLES - Oil, enamel painting on canvas with marbles in resin, 2020

2010s Contemporary Figurative Paintings

Mougenot Natalya"I love water lilies"( big figurative oil painting of a woman on canvas), 2024

1890s French School Figurative Prints

Henri Fantin-LatourHenri Fantin-Latour "The Appearance of the Holy Grail" Old Master Print, 1898

2010s Naturalistic Figurative Paintings

Agnieszka Staak-JanczarskaSitting with a flower. Realistic figurative oil painting, Nude, Young Polish art, 2024

2010s Abstract Impressionist Figurative Paintings

Ernest Laurent
Women seen from behind, 1920

Milton Avery
Standing Nude seen from Behind, circa 1950

Ulf Linde
Hompage Magritte, Called Woman Seen From Behind, Original Gouache, c.1970-1980

Roberto Gherardi
Nude seen from behind by Roberto Gherardi - Oil on canvas 22x34 cm, 1980

Giovan Battista Filosa
The Return from Fishing - Oil Paint by Giovan Battista Filosa - 1908, 1908

Massimo Campigli, 1895-1971
Donne a Ischia - Lithograph - 1952, 1952

Bob Peak
Football Team Sports Action Painting Abstract Expressionism, Sports Illustrated, 1963

George Tice
Two Amish Boys, Lancaster, Pennsylvania, 1962 (printed July 3, 2015)

Horst P. Horst
Mainbocher Corset. Paris. Printed later, 1990- 2010

Giovanni Francesco Barbieri (Il Guercino)
Leaning Nude Man (recto); Kneeling Man, Hands Tied Behind His Back (verso), circa 1625

Linda Clerget
Acrylic on board : 'One Last Wave' by Linda Clerget, 2023

Thomas Hart Benton
Down the River, 1939

SOPHIE DUMONT
Rêveries, Female nude, Oil, figurative, Contemporary Expressionism, French Art, 2016

Marian Bocianowski
A bike. Contemporary figurative print, A couple, Satire, Polish artist, 2009

Robert Roujas
Lying Nude Study Oil Painting by Robert Roujas, mid 20th Century

Leon Dusso
Classic Vertical Nude - Mixed Media by Leon Dusso

Eleanor Aldrich
LAWN CHAIR ON THE BEACH - Textural Figure Painting with oil, enamel and silicone, 2020

Eleanor Aldrich
ON THE ICE - Textural figure painting - Oil and Enamel on Canvas Red, Polka-Dot, 2020

Eleanor Aldrich
IN THE ROAD - Textural Figure Painting - Oil and Enamel on Panel - Light Blue, 2020

Mougenot Natalya
Abstract figurative acrylic painting on paper "Woman in a turquoise dress", 2024

Eleanor Aldrich
THE CRACKED MIRROR - oil and enamel and canvas on canvas- textural, figurative, 2020

Eleanor Aldrich
THE BLACK CAT - Textural figurative painting, woman reclining with black cat, 2020

Eleanor Aldrich
ZIG ZAG HAMMOCK - oil, enamel and silicone on canvas- pink, blue, tan texture, 2020

Eleanor Aldrich
FIGHTING IRISH (Red Stripes) - Textural painting with ceramic inlay, enamel, 2020

Eleanor Aldrich
LAWN CHAIR WITH MARBLES - Oil, enamel painting on canvas with marbles in resin, 2020

Mougenot Natalya
"I love water lilies"( big figurative oil painting of a woman on canvas), 2024

Henri Fantin-Latour
Henri Fantin-Latour "The Appearance of the Holy Grail" Old Master Print, 1898

Agnieszka Staak-Janczarska
Sitting with a flower. Realistic figurative oil painting, Nude, Young Polish art, 2024

Mougenot Natalya
Impressionist expressive acrylic painting of a couple "Forever with you", 2025

Gérard Uféras
Heart Art - Heart Shaped Cloud, Fine Art Photography

David Yarrow
Skyfall in Black and White, Fine Art Photography 2025, 2025

David Yarrow
Skyfall in Color, Fine Art Photography 2025, 2025

Cornelis Saftleven
Young Man with a Sword, a Fist on his Hip, a drawing by Cornelis Saftleven

Eleanor Aldrich
ON THE BOAT - Textural Figurative Painting of Figure on Sailboat- oil and enamel, 2020

Edouard Joseph Dantan
Phrosine and Mélidore, 1879

Lorna Simpson
Recall, from the Exit Art/The First World Portfolio, 1998

Bruno Surdo
The Abyss - Original Oil Painting of Nude Figures Wandering Into a Body of Water, 2018

Julio González
"Petit masque découpé Montserrat", 20th Century Bronze by Julio González, Circa 1930 - 1933

John Barnes Dobbs
“Motel Window”, Circa 1965

David Roberts
Circular Temple at Baalbek, Rare Original Signed Watercolour by David Roberts, 1839

Claude Weisbuch
'Il bouge sans arrêt' original signed lithograph poster after drypoint, 1960s, 1969

German School
A Musical Party, 16th century

Luca Cambiaso
The Flight into Egypt

Israel Henriet
Untitled - A woman with a basket seen from behind., circa 1630