One object, many interpretations

Pick an object and see how artists across cultures and centuries drew, carved and wove it, grouped by how it looks and by what it means. 2,310 works from 42 museums.

apple
apple42
peach
peach30
pomegranate
pomegranate28
grapes
grapes41
lemon
lemon27
lotus
lotus49
rose
rose47
lily
lily54
chrysanthemum
chrysanthemum52
bamboo
bamboo55
pine tree
pine tree51
horse
horse52
dog
dog47
cat
cat42
lion
lion44
tiger
tiger48
deer
deer43
elephant
elephant42
bird
bird40
crane
crane60
peacock
peacock51
fish
fish44
snake
snake56
dragon
dragon50
butterfly
butterfly42
monkey
monkey44
rabbit
rabbit40
boat
boat41
bridge
bridge40
skull
skull59
mirror
mirror50
book
book49
crown
crown46
sword
sword56
lute
lute55
drum
drum50
candle
candle59
vase
vase48
fan
fan60
umbrella
umbrella40
mask
mask60
cup
cup54
key
key42
hourglass
hourglass13
clock
clock40
basket
basket45
shell
shell41
bell
bell46
moon
moon51
ladder
ladder44