Neil deGrasse Tyson in 2023. (Photo: ARPAE Energy via Wikimedia Commons, CC 2.0)

In 2011, astrophysicist Neil deGrasse Tyson took to Reddit for an “Ask Me Anything” (AMA) session. Users wondered about everything from scientific funding and images taken from space to studying physics and recent technical innovations. But some commenters strayed from scientific topics completely, with one asking, “Which books should be read by every single intelligent person on the planet?” Tyson replied with a list of eight titles, each accompanied by explanations of how the book’s “content influenced the behavior of people who shaped the Western world.”

Below are the books featured in Tyson’s list, alongside his commentary and links to their free, online versions. To read the works, Tyson concluded, would be to “glean profound insight into most of what has driven the history of the Western world.” Some Reddit users also suggested additional titles, including Plato’s The Republic, Capital by Karl Marx, and Siddhartha by Hermann Hesse, among others.

To explore more, visit Tyson’s AMA thread on Reddit.

Astrophysicist Neil deGrasse Tyson revealed a list of eight books in response to a Reddit AMA asking, “Which books should be read by every single intelligent person on the planet?”

The Bible

The Gutenberg Bible (Photo: Gun Powder Ma via Wikimedia Commons, CC 2.0)

“To learn that it’s easier to be told by others what to think and believe than it is to think for yourself.”

The System of the World by Sir Isaac Newton

Bookshop | eBook

“To learn that the universe is a knowable place.”

The Origin of Species by Charles Darwin

Bookshop | eBook

“To learn of our kinship with all other life on Earth.”

Gulliver’s Travels by Jonathan Smith

Bookshop | eBook

“To learn, among other satirical lessons, that most of the time humans are Yahoos.”

The Age of Reason by Thomas Paine

Bookshop | eBook

“To learn how the power of rational thought is the primary source of freedom in the world.”

The Wealth of Nations by Adam Smith

Bookshop | eBook

“To learn that capitalism is an economy of greed, a force of nature unto itself.”

The Art of War by Sun Tsu

Bookshop | eBook

“To learn that the act of killing fellow humans can be raised to an art.”

The Prince by Nicolo Machiavelli

Bookshop | eBook

“To learn that people not in power will do all they can to acquire it, and people in power will do all they can to keep it.”

Source: I am Neil deGrasse Tyson — AMA

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READ: Here Are Neil deGrasse Tyson’s Eight Books That “Every Intelligent Person” Should Read

Children’s books are some of the first things that form us. They guide us through a world we’re still growing into; they make us laugh with their whimsical illustrations and humor; they make us reflect upon our actions and how they can impact those around us; and, perhaps most of all, they outline the values of our shared culture. And, like any piece or genre of literature, these books have undoubtedly evolved throughout time. The University of Florida’s Baldwin Library of Historical Children’s Literature traces that transformation, encompassing some of the world’s finest examples of what is now affectionately referred to as “kid lit.”

Since first reporting on this resource in 2022, the Baldwin Library has grown exponentially, now boasting nearly 11,000 titles to explore online, compared to more than 7,000 a few years ago. The digital database encompasses everything from a 1950 edition of Little Red Riding Hood to a 1875 version of Aladdin. Books range from the 19th to the 20th centuries, and, in addition to lesser-known gems, gather such classics as Cinderella, Rip Van Winkle, Gulliver’s Travels, and Sleeping Beauty, among countless others. Each entry features information about the volume’s subject, genre, date, and place of publication, and a PDF file, reproduced with stunning clarity, of the book itself.

Beyond being a remarkable archive, the Baldwin Library offers a compelling glimpse into the purpose of children’s literature across time. Lectures to Children from 1866, for instance, contains chapters like “God Will Take Care of Us” and “Angels’ Joy When Sinners Repent,” illustrating both the predominance of religious upbringing during that era, but the function of “sinning” or “repenting” as cautionary themes that redirect children toward righteous behavior. Moral Tales for Young People, an earlier collection from the 1810s, similarly touts ethics and common sense through its “agreeable” stories, all of which “embody the purest principles of moral rectitude.” Interestingly, the book’s preface bristles at fairytales, those “tales of horror and enchantment” that have “perverted the public taste.”

Other entries, however, are more didactic, focusing on teaching children about reading, physical science, natural history, and the alphabet. Of course, some of these titles reveal prevailing attitudes about race and colonialism, even when attempting to catalog something as “objective” as history. Tales About America and Australia, from 1862, recounts the discovery of the Americas, exploring the drama and glory of conquest while glossing over the violence committed against Indigenous populations. The Arabian Nights’ Entertainments, though a work of fiction, showcases illustrations perpetuating Orientalism, a popular subject within literature and art during the late 19th century. Even so, these books still provide rich historical insight into how such topics were discussed with and presented to children.

Overall, the Baldwin Library is an exceptional resource, ripe for endless hours of exploration, research, and reflection. To dive into more than 10,000 children’s books throughout history, visit the Baldwin Library of Historical Children’s Literature website.

The Baldwin Library of Historical Children’s Literature gathers nearly 11,000 books dedicated to children, showcasing the historical breadth and evolution of children’s literature.

Featured books span everything from Little Red Riding Hood and Aladdin to Cinderella and Gulliver’s Travels.

The Baldwin Library of Historical Children’s Literature: Website

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READ: Dive Into Over 10,000 Historical Children’s Books Thanks to This Fascinating Database

Widener Library at Harvard University. (Photo: Caroline Culler via Wikimedia Commons, CC 4.0)

Harvard is one of the most competitive universities in the United States, boasting an elite reputation and coveted academics that are admired around the world. Even so, there’s something not many know about this prestigious school: they offer more than 130 courses all for free.

Available through the online learning platform edX, these classes span everything from political science, human anatomy, and calculus, to public health, musical history, and chemistry. Harvard’s free program also encompasses the humanities, as well as deep dives into a range of religions, including Buddhism, Judaism, Hinduism, and Christianity. Other courses focus instead on managing anxiety and mental health, the remote work revolution, civic engagement, food fermentation, and exercising leadership, emphasizing the program’s broad scope and its practical applications beyond academia.

Harvard even offers its renowned CS50: Introduction to Computer Science for free, which was also adapted by Yale for over a decade through an academic partnership. The course serves as a sweeping overview of computer science’s “intellectual enterprises and the art of programming,” covering several languages like Python, Java, CSS, and HTML. Providing a rigorous and foundational framework, CS50 prepares its students for other courses such as Machine Learning and AI and Introduction to Data Science, among others.

For those more curious about the arts, there are plenty of opportunities to explore topics in literature, architecture, and global cultures. Modern Masterpieces of World Literature, for instance, examines how literary traditions have evolved across a variety of contexts, highlighting authors like Jorge Luis Borges, Jhumpa Lahiri, and Lu Xun. The Architectural Imagination, on the other hand, considers the material and aesthetic principles of architecture, while also teaching the basic techniques behind producing your own architectural drawings and models.

Most classes are self-paced and require anywhere from three to eight hours a week. The only catch, however, is that these courses don’t include a free certificate of completion, although they can be purchased for a few hundred dollars for select programs.

To explore the full catalog, visit Harvard’s website.

Did you know you can take free classes at Harvard? The Ivy League institution offers more than 130 courses all for free, encompassing everything from political science and calculus to public health and musical history.

View of the northwestern corner of the Old Yard, showing Hollis, Stoughton, and Holworthy Halls. (Photo: Mancala, Public domain)

Harvard: Website | Instagram

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(Photo: EmperorOfNYC, via Wikimedia Commons, CC 4.0)

Last year, New York’s entire subway system had an on-time average of a little over 82%. Regardless, MTA delays can occur anytime and for a variety of reasons, whether it be due to police investigations, unexpected track maintenance, or sick passengers. Should these hiccups delay you during your commute to work, school, an appointment, or a similar commitment, did you know that the MTA will provide a note excusing your tardiness?

The MTA has been delivering such notes—called “Subway and Bus Delay Verifications”—for several years, but they aren’t a perk that many New Yorkers are familiar with. As implied by its name, the service provides verification of delays to trips taken on MTA subways and buses, as long as those delays are longer than 10 minutes and occurred within the last 180 days.

Those seeking a delay verification must complete an online form via MTA’s website, with questions about the specific buses and subway trains traveled upon, total minutes delayed, and the date of the incident. Once submitted, the MTA sends out a confirmation email and, anywhere between 36 hours to three business days later, a second email will arrive with their findings.

Though the form proves helpful in most situations, some delays will have occurred beyond the 180-day threshold. If this is the case, the MTA requires that you call their customer services team via 511 to file a verification request.

To learn more about the Subway and Bus Delay Verification process, visit the MTA website.

The MTA’s Subway and Bus Delay Verification program offers passengers tardy notes if their journeys are delayed more than 10 minutes within the last 180 days.

(Photo: Metropolitan Transportation Authority of the State of New York, via Wikimedia Commons, CC 2.0)

To request a note, simply submit your trip details via an online form on the MTA website.

(Photo: Tdorante10, via Wikimedia Commons, CC 4.0)

MTA: Website | Instagram

Source: Late for work? The MTA will take the blame and give your boss a note. Here’s how.

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Photo: Internet Archive, Public domain

There are countless objects that defy understanding, but the Voynich manuscript is perhaps one of the most confounding. Named after the rare books collector Wilfrid Voynich, who acquired it in 1912, the manuscript continues to baffle skilled cryptologists to this day. In fact, it’s never even been deciphered.

The manuscript’s delicate parchment cover bears no indication of its origin, whether that be its year of publication, title, or author. Its vellum pages showcase puzzling, and at times unsettling, illustrations, including those of naked women bathing in a bizarre green liquid. The manuscript also features intricate astrological charts, unidentifiable plants, and, most famously, an undecipherable script.

For those reasons, nothing particularly concrete is known about the Voynich manuscript, other than that its vellum pages have been carbon-dated to the early 15th century. Cryptologists have also determined that the script found within the manuscript is written in a line-by-line manner, appearing to be alphabetic.

“No other document that includes writing in the same script has ever been found,” writes René Zandbergen, a long-time researcher of the Voynich. “It cannot be understood, despite many decades of attempts and statistical analysis.”

Though equally perplexing, the manuscript’s illustrations are, to some extent, grouped together by specific motifs, allowing for discrete sections within the text itself. These range from herbal, astronomical, zodiac, biological, pharmaceutical, and recipe sections, each containing their own distinct imagery.

“Voynich once stated that the book would become more valuable as soon as it has been deciphered, but this is hardly true,” Zandbergen continues. “Its mystery and its resistance to translation is what makes it special.”

In 2020, Yale published the Voynich manuscript online in its entirety. For those eager to crack the code, the manuscript can be explored through the Internet Archive.

The Voynich manuscript has eluded cryptologists for centuries with its undecipherable script and puzzling illustrations.

Photo: Internet Archive, Public domain

Photo: Internet Archive, Public domain

Photo: Internet Archive, Public domain

The manuscript is named after the rare book collector who acquired it in 1912, and bears no indication of its origin, author, or title.

Photo: Internet Archive, Public domain

Photo: Internet Archive, Public domain

Through carbon dating, the manuscript's vellum pages have been determined to be from the early 15th century.

Photo: Internet Archive, Public domain

Photo: Internet Archive, Public domain

The Voynich manuscript is currently housed at Yale University, and is available to browse online in its entirety.

Photo: Internet Archive, Public domain

Photo: Internet Archive, Public domain

Sources: Voynich.nu; The Voynich Manuscript; The Unread: The Mystery of the Voynich Manuscript; What We Know About the Voynich Manuscript

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READ: The Undecipherable Voynich Manuscript Can Be Viewed Online in Its Entirety

According to IBISWorld, Amazon accounts for 80% of all online book sales. It’s a well-established fact that the company dominates several e-commerce industries at the expense of independent and small businesses, but Bookshop.org now has a solution for going “head-to-head with Amazon’s Kindle apps.”

Just in time for its fifth anniversary, Bookshop has launched a revolutionary ebook platform to support local bookstores. The initiative seeks to combat Amazon’s monopoly over the online book market, and will empower independent bookstores to sell their own digital products. 100% of profits from e-book sales will also be redistributed to these indie sellers.

“When we launched Bookshop.org, the vision was to support local bookstores in their battle against Amazon and other online retailers,” says Andy Hunter, CEO and founder of Bookshop.org, in a statement. “This launch represents our commitment to bookstores and their communities. We're focused on keeping bookstores afloat and helping them flourish in the digital age.”

Since its launch in 2020, Bookshop has championed independent bookstores, directly connecting readers with local merchants in an effort to redirect revenue streams from major corporations. The online platform has raised over $35 million for independent bookstores in the United States alone, allocating more than 80% of its profit margin to them.

Bookshop’s new ebook platform is yet another example of its staunch dedication to independent booksellers. Not only is this initiative the first of its kind, but it’s also an example of Bookshop’s model of “socially conscious consumerism,” one that Hunter himself prioritizes within his own life.

“Right now, no matter how much you love your local bookstore, if you want to read an e-book, you have to go to Amazon or another alternate platform and you can’t support your local bookstore,” Hunter tells USA TODAY. “E-books are an important revenue stream for publishers and authors and they could be for independent bookstores.”

Bookshop’s ebook app is currently available for iOS, Android, and is accessible from web browsers as well. The platform is almost reminiscent of a database, boasting nearly a million titles from major publishing houses and a myriad of features to enhance the reading experience, whether it be built-in annotation, note, quote-sharing, or dictionary tools.

“There’s no reason on Earth to give a billionaire your $9.99 for your ebook,” Hunter continues.

To explore everything their new ebook app has to offer, visit the Bookshop website. You can also check out book recommendations from My Modern Met on Bookshop.org.

Bookshop.org recently launched a revolutionary ebook platform for local and independent bookstores, allowing them to sell digital products directly to readers.

A reflection of Bookshop's commitment to indie businesses, 100% of profits from ebook sales will also be redistributed to these bookstores.

 

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Bookshop.org: Website | Instagram

All images via Bookshop.org.

Source: Bookshop.org Launches Revolutionary Ebook Platform To Support Local Bookstores

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A new fund has recently been established for artists and arts workers impacted by the destructive Los Angeles firestorms. Led by the J. Paul Getty Trust, the LA Arts Community Fire Relief Fund launched on January 15 with $12 million, and is rapidly growing in response to wildfire devastation.

Several other local art institutions are participating in the fundraising effort, including MOCA, LACMA, and the Hammer Museum. Partnering organizations span the Mellon Foundation, Andy Warhol Foundation for the Visual Arts, Ford Foundation, and Qatar Museums, among other national and international institutions.

Beginning on January 20, artists and arts workers across any discipline affected by the Los Angeles wildfires can apply for an emergency grant via the Center for Cultural Innovation website. According to a statement from the Getty, the application process will be designed with expediency at its core, emphasizing a swift redistribution of funds and, as the situation evolves, the potential for applying funds to longer-term needs.

Los Angeles is recognized internationally for its vibrant art scene, boasting a diverse array of arts institutions, studios, collectives, and archives. Having already destroyed as many as 12,000 homes, the firestorms have ravaged the thriving city and its creative economy, displacing thousands of residents and significantly disrupting their livelihoods.

“People around the world are watching in horror as vast areas of Los Angeles burn, but this regional tragedy has global cultural repercussions,” Katherine E. Fleming, president and CEO of the J. Paul Getty Trust, said in a statement. “Amid the losses suffered by the artists and arts workers who so strongly define LA, Getty is grateful to the many partners, local, national, and international, who have come together to meet the urgent needs of this community.”

The LA Arts Community Fire Relief Fund is only one of many fundraising initiatives in response to the wildfires. Whether it be the Art World Fire Relief LA GoFundMe campaign, Craft Emergency Relief Fund, Los Angeles Fire Relief Effort to Support Music Professionals, or the Entertainment Community Fund, each effort strives to offer mutual aid and support during a time of exceptional hardship.

My Modern Met is proud to have donated to the LA Arts Community Fire Relief Fund. If you’d like to help support artists and arts workers affected by these devastating fires, please consider donating on Getty’s website.

If you want to help those who have been affected by the fires in the LA area, check out this list of wildfire relief initiatives. For those affected by the fires, please refer to this updated list of resources for shelter, food, clothing, pet care, and more.

Led by the J. Paul Getty Foundation, the LA Arts Community Fire Relief Fund will offer critical aid to artists and arts workers impacted by the Los Angeles wildfires.

The outside of the Getty Museum in Los Angeles (Photo: Bobak Ha'Eri, via Wikimedia Commons, CC 3.0)

Beginning on January 20, people may apply for emergency funds via the Center for Cultural Innovation website, which the Getty and its partnering institutions aim to redistribute rapidly.

Source: Foundations and Arts Organizations Create $12M LA Arts Community Fire Relief Fund

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Conditions in California have been devastating lately due to the wildfires that have ravaged the Los Angeles area. However, our faith in humanity has been restored thanks to the countless acts of kindness from across the United States and even beyond. In a video recently shared by Khalsa Aid, we're given yet another opportunity to witness selfless acts of compassion and warm-hearted hospitality. Members of Southern California’s Sikh community have been preparing hot meals for those affected by the firestorms. People are seen vigorously chopping vegetables while others stir massive pots filled with sauces, soups, and curries. The finished meals are then meticulously hand-packed and stored into cardboard boxes, which volunteers wheel away on a cart.

Since last week, Khalsa Aid, a global humanitarian organization built upon Sikh principles, has prepared hundreds of vegetarian meals for those affected by the Los Angeles wildfires. Volunteers have also distributed essential non-perishable goods to thousands of families, all while partnering with local groups like Korea Town’s YMCA and Pasadena Job Center.

In Bakersville, a city just north of Los Angeles, Sikh residents are similarly mobilizing, collecting items such as new socks, blankets, and underwear, as well as food, water, and Gatorade to redistribute to community members impacted by the fires.

“In the Sikh community I have received a lot of requests of folks wanting to help, they really felt a call to do something and help our neighbors in the Los Angeles area,” Manpreet Kaur, vice mayor of Bakersfield, told local broadcasting network KERO-TV.

In 2022, Kuar became the first Sikh Punjabi woman elected to the Bakersfield City Council. Given her cultural background, Kuar immediately understood the importance of Sikh involvement in wildfire relief efforts.

“We’ve taken all of our Gudwara’s, which are Sikh places of worship, and we have made them collection sites so that we can collect the supplies that are most needed,” Kuar continued. “One of our Sikh principles is generosity and being of service to others.”

In addition to the Sikh community, several others have rallied behind Los Angeles through mutual aid and grassroots initiatives. Based in Inglewood, It’s Bigger Than Us is a Black-led non-profit that has been delivering water and resources to first responders while simultaneously running a distribution hub. The National Day Laborer Organizing Network is similarly raising money for immigrant workers, and Lagartijas Climbing Crú, a collective of BIPOC rock climbers, has organized a crowdsourced spreadsheet for mutual aid requests.

For many Angelenos, grassroots organizing has proven more effective and reliable than that of state and federal agencies. Many organizers have expressed frustration with how, just months before the fires erupted, the city of Los Angeles cut their fire department’s budget by $17.5 million while raising that of LAPD by $126 million.

“The city started off this chain of events,” Howie Galper, a lead organizer of the political group the People’s Struggle San Fernando Valley, told The Guardian. “The politics of LA is to ignore the people, and this is the end result.”

Even so, these local efforts offer an extraordinary glimpse into the strength of community solidarity and mobilization in the face of climate disaster. As of this writing, the Los Angeles firestorms have destroyed an estimated 12,000 homes, and have forced over 100,000 residents to evacuate. In the Pacific Palisades alone, wildfires have ravaged nearly 24,000 acres of land.

If you want to help those who have been affected by the fires in the LA area, check out our list of wildfire relief initiatives. For those affected by the fires, please refer to this updated list of resources for shelter, food, clothing, pet care, and more.

Sikh communities across Southern California are organizing relief efforts for those impacted by the Los Angeles firestorms.

 

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Khalsa Aid is one such organization, having prepared hundreds of hot meals for redistribution.

 

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A post shared by Khalsa Aid USA (@khalsaaidusa)

Other marginalized communities have initiated grassroots efforts as well, such as It's Bigger Than Us and Lagartijas Climbing Crú.

 

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A post shared by Its Bigger Than Us (@itsbiggerthanus_)

The Los Angeles firestorms are the most destructive in California's history, having destroyed nearly 24,000 acres of land in the Pacific Palisades alone.

The Palisades fire in Los Angeles. (Photo: CAL FIRE_Official via Wikimedia Commons, Public domain)

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READ: Sikh Communities in Southern California Are Organizing Relief Efforts for Victims of LA Firestorms

The Palisades fire in Los Angeles. (Photo: CAL FIRE_Official via Wikimedia Commons, Public domain)

On January 7, the most destructive firestorms in California history began ravaging Los Angeles. Over 100,000 people have been forced to evacuate their homes, with fires tearing through nearly 24,000 acres of land in the Pacific Palisades alone. There are several ways to support those impacted by these devastating wildfires, and buying artwork is now one of them.

In the past week, the art community has led the charge in funding wildfire relief efforts, whether it be through artwork raffles or sales. These proceeds are then redistributed to impacted individuals, mutual aid initiatives, or national organizations.

The Wattis Institute at the California College of the Arts, for example, is currently selling a print by the renowned West Coast artist Ed Ruscha. All proceeds from the sale through the month of January will benefit the LA Art World Fire Relief, an organization dedicated to helping artists and art workers recover from the damage caused by current wildfires.

Brooklyn- and Tokyo-based artist Kei Meguro is similarly selling prints from his Ikebana series to fund relief efforts, with 100% of proceeds being donated to Pasadena Humane. The non-profit organization focuses on critical care, shelter, and support to pets and wildlife displaced by the Los Angeles fires.

Art galleries have been proponents of wildfire aid as well. Until further notice, Treat Gallery in New York will be donating 40% of all artwork sales directly to the California Community Foundation’s Wildfire Recovery Fund. Hashimoto Contemporary, a gallery based in San Francisco and New York, is also hosting a raffle with artworks donated by over 30 artists, including Devra Fox, Carlos Rodriguez, and Madeline Tonzi.

These are only a handful of the efforts currently being launched by artists, studios, and galleries across the country. Our resource list below includes additional initiatives to help those affected by the Los Angeles firestorms.

If you want to help those who have been affected by the fires in the LA area, check out this list of wildfire relief initiatives. For those affected by the fires, please refer to this updated list of resources for shelter, food, clothing, pet care, and more.

Artists and galleries are selling artworks to help raise funds for those impacted by the wildfires in California.

The Palisades Fire on January 8, 2025. (Photo: CAL FIRE_Official via Wikimedia Commons, Public domain)

Here are some of the many initiatives in the art community that are currently fundraising.

Women of Type

Women of Type is a premier global community that celebrates and uplifts women and nonbinary lettering and typography artists. The organization is currently partnering with Sticker Giant, with 100% of proceeds from its sticker sales going directly to the Pasadena Humane Society. A pack of two stickers is being sold for $10, with free U.S. shipping.

 

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A post shared by Women Of Type | Lettering Community (@womenoftype)

Feia Raffle

Thomas Pilnik and his husband Jake Cavallo are the duo behind the Los Angeles-based design studio Feia. The couple is now hosting a raffle for three artworks by Pilnik, and proceeds will be redistributed to individual artists on GoFundMe and the Mutual Aid LA Network. Tickets are available for $15 until January 15 at 5 p.m. PT.

Shepard Fairey’s Limited-Edition Prints

Shepard Fairey is best known for creating Obama’s HOPE and Kamala Harris’ FORWARD posters. Now, the artist has designed a limited-edition print featuring a sparrow soaring above flames. 100% of proceeds from the Re-Build/Re-Think poster sales will be donated to the American Red Cross and other vetted organizations. The posters will be on sale until Thursday, January 16 at 12 p.m. PT.

 

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Anat Egbi Gallery Fundraiser for Alec Egan

Artist Alec Egan was preparing for a January exhibition at Anat Egbi Gallery when he lost his home, studio, and all artworks intended for the show in the fires. The gallery is now selling prints featuring Egan’s work, with all proceeds directly supporting Egan. The poster is available to purchase for $100 in the Anat Egbi Shop.

Brendan George Ko Butterfly Prints

Brendan George Ko is celebrated for his nature photography, which has been featured in The New Yorker and The New York Times. He’s now selling prints of two butterfly photographs for $220 each, with proceeds being donated to the Mutual Aid LA Network. To order a print, you can DM the photographer on Instagram.

 

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A post shared by Brendan George Ko (@brendangeorgeko)

Kingsland Editions T-Shirts

Based in Brooklyn, Kingsland Editions specializes in screen printing. They’re currently selling a $50 t-shirt featuring the text “New York” and “Los Angeles” separated by a massive red heart. Proceeds will be donated to the Mutual Aid LA Network.

Spoke Art Gallery Print by George Townley

The fine art gallery has announced the launch of a charity print by George Townley. All proceeds from sales will be donated to World Central Kitchen. The gallery has yet to announce its release, but you can stay updated by following them on Instagram.

 

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Source: Buy an Artwork to Support Victims of LA Fires

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As its name suggests, The Public Domain Review (PDR) spotlights works that have fallen into the public domain, all through the lens of articles that distill the history of art, literature, and ideas. The journal has just launched a new initiative that expands upon this goal, bringing together more than 10,000 images currently in the public domain.

Meticulously curated by the PDR, The Public Domain Image Archive (PDIA) serves not only as a practical resource but as a tool for endless exploration. The database can be searched by categories such as century, artist, style, and theme, including “Animals & Beasts,” “Humor & Satire,” and “Science & Medicine.” A sorting mechanism further maximizes browsability, organizing entries by tags like “Date: Oldest to Newest” and “Added: Latest to Earliest.”

Similar to other databases, PDIA boasts an impressive assortment of materials, representing over 2,000 years of visual culture. Typographical posters, book illustrations, geometric diagrams, advertisements, and sculptures all coalesce to produce a captivating portrait of human history as it’s evolved across time. Entries are also accompanied by a short text and linked out to a relevant PDR article to provide additional context.

PDIA’s impressive range, however, is best visualized through its Infinite View feature. Upon entering Infinite View, visitors are able to scroll in any direction through a limitless, 360° maze of images, offering a more immersive experience of PDIA’s collection.

“The PDIA sets out to emphasize this visual nature of the PDR, freeing these images from their textual homes and placing them front and center for easier discovery, comparison, and appreciation,” PDR wrote in a statement. “Whether you’re a researcher, an artist, a designer, or simply a lover of old images, we hope you find the PDIA to be a source of inspiration and delight.”

Though free and accessible to anyone, PDIA is nevertheless a costly undertaking. To contribute to the initiative, visit the PDR’s Support page.

Created by The Public Domain Review, The Public Domain Image Archive compiles over 10,000 images currently in the public domain.

The images span over 2,000 years of visual history, and are free to explore and use by the public.

Images range from advertisements and illustrations to sculptures and photographs.

The Public Domain Image Archive can also be explored through “Infinite View,” allowing users to scroll an immersive 360° maze of images.

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READ: 10,000+ Historical Images Are Now Free To Explore and Use in New Public Domain Image Archive