best paintings in history

Ever stared at a blank canvas and thought, “Could this be the next best paintings in history?” Let’s be real—probably not… but hey, even da Vinci didn’t know he was cooking up the Mona Lisa’s legendary smirk on his first go. Calling something one of the best paintings in history isn’t just about fancy brushwork or how much linseed oil you spilled—it’s about legacy, feels, technical wizardry, and that weird magic that makes your soul do a little happy shuffle. Up here in Canada, we’d say it’s got “good vibes, eh?” But globally? It’s about hitting that sweet spot where art echoes through time and still gives you goosebumps during a random Tuesday stroll through the AGO.

Come on—some of the best paintings in history hit harder than a double-double from Tim Hortons after a -30°C Winnipeg windchill. Take Van Gogh’s *Starry Night*: swirling skies, emotional chaos, and loneliness so raw it’s like getting a hug from your most melancholy buddy. These aren’t just pictures—they’re emotional time capsules. The best paintings in history act like mirrors—sometimes cracked, sometimes crystal clear—showing us all the messy, beautiful parts of being human. And honestly? That’s why we keep coming back. They don’t just hang on walls—they live in your chest like that one song you can’t stop replaying.

Sure, you can teach someone to mix cadmium red with ultramarine—but good luck teaching them to paint like Caravaggio. The best paintings in history often flex technique so sharp it feels like sorcery. Chiaroscuro? Foreshortening? Glazing so thin it’s basically spiritual? Yeah, those are the tools of the OGs. But here’s the thing: skill alone won’t get you into the hall of fame for the best paintings in history. It’s that combo of craft and soul—the moment when paint turns into poetry—that really seals the deal. As some Montreal art prof once mumbled over a plate of poutine, “It ain’t what you paint—it’s *why* it haunts ya.”

Some of the best paintings in history didn’t just hang in fancy parlours—they lit fires under movements. Picasso’s *Guernica*? A visual scream against fascism that still echoes in protest marches from Halifax to Vancouver. Delacroix’s *Liberty Leading the People*? Basically the original freedom poster. These works aren’t passive—they’re agitators. The best paintings in history become part of our cultural DNA—woven into schoolbooks, Instagram memes, and national identities. You’ll find folks in Tofino or downtown Toronto who’ve never stepped foot in a gallery but still recognize the existential panic in *The Scream*. Now that’s influence, baby.

If you’ve ever squinted at a painting wondering, “Did they seriously paint every single leaf by hand?”—congrats, you’ve entered the world of hyper-detailed masterpieces. Among the best paintings in history, Jan van Eyck’s *The Arnolfini Portrait* (1434) is basically the OG 4K resolution. Tiny dog hairs. Reflected figures in a convex mirror. A signature hidden like an Easter egg. This level of detail wasn’t just showing off—it was Northern Renaissance flexing. The best paintings in history reward obsession: the closer you look, the more secrets spill out. And let’s be honest—in an age of TikTok scrolls, staring at one painting for 20 minutes feels kinda rebellious, eh?

Ask ten art lovers “What’s the greatest painting in history?” and you’ll get eleven answers (one guy will say “all of them,” then cry into his flat white). But if we’re playing favourites, Leonardo’s *Mona Lisa* usually wins—not ‘cause she’s the prettiest, but ‘cause she’s the ultimate mystery wrapped in oil on poplar. That smile? Still debated. Her 1911 heist? Made her famous. The Louvre lineups? Legendary. Still, some swear Michelangelo’s Sistine Chapel ceiling or Rembrandt’s *The Return of the Prodigal Son* carry deeper feels. Truth is, the best paintings in history aren’t ranked—they’re felt. And your “greatest” might be the one that made you freeze mid-step in a quiet Vancouver gallery, heart thumping like you just heard your favourite track on shuffle.

Okay, fine—drawings ≠ paintings—but since you Googled it, we’ll roll with it. If we’re talking raw genius on paper, Leonardo’s *Vitruvian Man* or Michelangelo’s *Studies for the Libyan Sibyl* might just be the best drawings in history. But plot twist: many of the best paintings in history started as humble sketches. Those scribbles were the birthplace of vision. So while the finished oil painting gets all the glory, remember—it began as a doodle in a notebook, maybe smudged by a thumb covered in charcoal. An old artist in Halifax once told us, “A great drawing ain’t finished—it’s just stopped running.” Same energy applies to the best paintings in history: they’re frozen moments of relentless motion.

Money talks—and in the art world, it yells in CAD. Here’s a quick peek at some of the best paintings in history that also happen to cost more than a downtown Toronto condo:

These aren’t just artworks—they’re status symbols, investment pieces, and sometimes, tax loopholes. But don’t let the price tags fool ya: value ≠ greatness. Some of the best paintings in history hang in public galleries, free for anyone with a bus pass and a curious mind. ‘Cause real worth? It’s measured in chills, not cheques.

Trends come and go. Remember frosted tips? Or those neon yoga pants? Yeah, gone. But the best paintings in history? They stick around like your Nan’s cast-iron skillet—reliable, layered, and full of stories. What separates timeless from trendy? Relevance. A painting that speaks to universal truths—love, grief, wonder—won’t gather dust. Meanwhile, flashy gimmicks vanish faster than snow in April in Calgary. The best paintings in history adapt: they mean one thing to a 17th-century monk, another to a Gen Z climate activist, and something entirely new to you, standing there in your worn-out Lululemons, feeling seen across four centuries. That’s not marketing—that’s magic.

Today, we scroll past thousands of images before breakfast—but the best paintings in history still demand a second look. Why? ‘Cause they refuse to be background noise. Whether it’s through digital restorations, VR tours of the ROM, or street art tributes in Montreal alleyways, these works evolve without losing their soul. And hey, if you’re diving deeper, start with the SB Contemporary Art homepage for curated insights. Love organizing your obsessions? Check out the View section. Or relive Van Gogh’s stormy soul in our deep dive: Popular Van Gogh Paintings: Emotional Masterpieces. The best paintings in history aren’t dusty relics—they’re living convos, and you’re invited to pull up a chair. Just don’t spill your Timmy’s on the frame, eh?

References

• https://www.metmuseum.org/art/collection/search
• https://www.louvre.fr/en/oeuvre-notices/mona-lisa-portrait-lisa-gherardini-wife-francesco-del-giocondo
• https://www.nationalgallery.org.uk/paintings
• https://www.tate.org.uk/art/artworks