Paintings that move people, from our own time and the centuries behind it. Each has a line on why it fits, and a link to where it is held.
Examples of the spirit, not a style guide: your work does not need to look like any of them. What is Rehumanism
Made in our lifetime
Painted since 1945, several by artists working today. This is the company your work joins.
Lucian Freud, Girl with a White Dog, 1950 to 1951Tate, LondonThe painter's young wife, guarded and exposed at once. A marriage in one look.TruthSee it at Tate →About this workTate, LondonThe painter's young wife, guarded and exposed at once. A marriage in one look.TruthSee it at Tate →Andrew Wyeth, Christina's World, 1948Museum of Modern Art, New YorkA neighbor who could not walk, crossing a field on her own strength. Wyeth makes us feel her will, not pity.TruthSee it at MoMA →About this workMuseum of Modern Art, New YorkA neighbor who could not walk, crossing a field on her own strength. Wyeth makes us feel her will, not pity.TruthSee it at MoMA →David Hockney, Mr and Mrs Clark and Percy, 1970 to 1971Tate, LondonA young couple in their flat, close and apart. A wedding portrait for modern life.LoveSee it at Tate →About this workTate, LondonA young couple in their flat, close and apart. A wedding portrait for modern life.LoveSee it at Tate →Norman Rockwell, The Problem We All Live With, 1964Norman Rockwell Museum, StockbridgeA six-year-old walking to school with her head up. The composition puts us at her height.TruthSee it at the Norman Rockwell Museum →About this workNorman Rockwell Museum, StockbridgeA six-year-old walking to school with her head up. The composition puts us at her height.TruthSee it at the Norman Rockwell Museum →Norman Rockwell, The Runaway, 1958Norman Rockwell Museum, StockbridgeA state trooper and a small runaway at a lunch counter: kindness from a stranger, painted with humor.LoveSee it at the Norman Rockwell Museum →About this workNorman Rockwell Museum, StockbridgeA state trooper and a small runaway at a lunch counter: kindness from a stranger, painted with humor.LoveSee it at the Norman Rockwell Museum →Norman Rockwell, Marriage License, 1955Norman Rockwell Museum, StockbridgeA young couple signing at the clerk's desk while the old clerk looks on. Beginnings and endings in one room.LoveSee it at the Norman Rockwell Museum →About this workNorman Rockwell Museum, StockbridgeA young couple signing at the clerk's desk while the old clerk looks on. Beginnings and endings in one room.LoveSee it at the Norman Rockwell Museum →Jack Vettriano, The Singing Butler, 1992Private collectionA couple dancing on a windy beach. Widely loved, and proof that romance still moves people.BeautyRead about it →About this workPrivate collectionA couple dancing on a windy beach. Widely loved, and proof that romance still moves people.BeautyRead about it →Carla Louise Paine, A Father and Son, recentWashington State painterA father holding his sleeping child: protection and tenderness, read in a second.LoveSee more from the artist →About this workWashington State painterA father holding his sleeping child: protection and tenderness, read in a second.LoveSee more from the artist →Chris Hopkins, Dancing on Daddy's Shoes, 2024Fountainhead Gallery, SeattleA child balancing on her father's shoes, hands clasped: trust, in one gesture.LoveRead about it →About this workFountainhead Gallery, SeattleA child balancing on her father's shoes, hands clasped: trust, in one gesture.LoveRead about it →Kathy Roseth, Nap Discussion, 2026Seattle painterA tired mother on the couch, a small child curled into her. Care, fatigue and trust.LoveSee more from the artist →About this workSeattle painterA tired mother on the couch, a small child curled into her. Care, fatigue and trust.LoveSee more from the artist →
More examples
Fathers, mothers, family
The people who raise us, and the moments we remember them by.
Charles Trevor Garland, Father and Daughter, 19th centuryPrivate collectionA father in uniform lifts his small daughter close. Strength and tenderness in one embrace.LoveAbout the artist →About this workPrivate collectionA father in uniform lifts his small daughter close. Strength and tenderness in one embrace.LoveAbout the artist →Henry Ossawa Tanner, The Banjo Lesson, 1893Hampton University Museum, VirginiaA grandfather teaching a boy to play. Knowledge passed on with patience.LoveSee it at Hampton University Museum →About this workHampton University Museum, VirginiaA grandfather teaching a boy to play. Knowledge passed on with patience.LoveSee it at Hampton University Museum →, , 1893
Courage and care
Standing up, keeping watch, and carrying what has to be carried.
Jules Bastien-Lepage, Joan of Arc, 1879Metropolitan Museum of Art, New YorkA farm girl in her parents' garden at the moment she hears her calling.TruthSee it at The Met →About this workMetropolitan Museum of Art, New YorkA farm girl in her parents' garden at the moment she hears her calling.TruthSee it at The Met →Luke Fildes, The Doctor, 1891Tate, LondonA doctor keeping watch over a sick child at dawn. Painted after the death of Fildes's own son.LoveSee it at Tate →About this workTate, LondonA doctor keeping watch over a sick child at dawn. Painted after the death of Fildes's own son.LoveSee it at Tate →Joaquín Sorolla, Sad Inheritance!, 1899Bancaja collection, Valencia
Work and solitude
Ordinary labor and quiet hours, painted with respect.
Johannes Vermeer, The Milkmaid, about 1658Rijksmuseum, AmsterdamA kitchen maid pouring milk. Quiet attention turns a chore into something luminous.BeautySee it at the Rijksmuseum →About this workRijksmuseum, AmsterdamA kitchen maid pouring milk. Quiet attention turns a chore into something luminous.BeautySee it at the Rijksmuseum →Gustave Caillebotte, The Floor Scrapers, 1875Musée d'Orsay, ParisWorkmen planing a floor, shirtless in afternoon light. Labor painted as worthy of a museum.TruthSee it at the Musée d'Orsay →About this workMusée d'Orsay, ParisWorkmen planing a floor, shirtless in afternoon light. Labor painted as worthy of a museum.TruthSee it at the Musée d'Orsay →Ilya Repin, , 1870 to 1873
Joy and togetherness
Dancing, play and friendship: what being together feels like.
Anders Zorn, Midsummer Dance, 1897Nationalmuseum, StockholmA village dancing through the bright Swedish night. Community as celebration.LoveSee it at the Nationalmuseum, Stockholm →About this workNationalmuseum, StockholmA village dancing through the bright Swedish night. Community as celebration.LoveSee it at the Nationalmuseum, Stockholm →Pierre-Auguste Renoir, Luncheon of the Boating Party, 1880 to 1881The Phillips Collection, WashingtonAn ordinary afternoon with friends by the river, made timeless. Loved for the moment of belonging it caught.LoveSee it at the Phillips Collection →About this workThe Phillips Collection, WashingtonAn ordinary afternoon with friends by the river, made timeless. Loved for the moment of belonging it caught.LoveSee it at the Phillips Collection →
The works shown here are examples chosen for commentary and education. We haven't sought permission for every image; in our judgment this is editorial fair use. If you have any concern about an image, please write to us and we'll gladly address it.
The Rehumanism Prize · Year one
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Elizabeth Jane Gardner, The Little Mother, 1891Private collectionAn older sister holds the little one close. Care that starts young.LoveAbout the artist →About this workPrivate collectionAn older sister holds the little one close. Care that starts young.LoveAbout the artist →
Thomas Hovenden, Breaking Home Ties, 1890Philadelphia Museum of ArtA mother saying goodbye to her grown son. Voted the most popular painting at the 1893 World's Fair.LoveSee it at the Philadelphia Museum of Art →About this workPhiladelphia Museum of ArtA mother saying goodbye to her grown son. Voted the most popular painting at the 1893 World's Fair.LoveSee it at the Philadelphia Museum of Art →
A religious brother bathing disabled children in the sea. Care for those others overlooked.
About this workBancaja collection, ValenciaA religious brother bathing disabled children in the sea. Care for those others overlooked.TruthRead about it →
Edmund Blair Leighton, Faded Laurels, 1889Private collectionAn old man sits apart as a celebration passes him by. Faded glory, painted with dignity.TruthAbout the artist →About this workPrivate collectionAn old man sits apart as a celebration passes him by. Faded glory, painted with dignity.TruthAbout the artist →
Barge Haulers on the Volga
State Russian Museum, Saint PetersburgEleven men dragging a barge, each one a distinct person. Labor with a face.TruthSee it at the Russian Museum →
About this workState Russian Museum, Saint PetersburgEleven men dragging a barge, each one a distinct person. Labor with a face.TruthSee it at the Russian Museum →
Jules Bastien-Lepage, Haymaking, 1877Musée d'Orsay, ParisA young farmworker sitting dazed with fatigue. Rest after labor, without sentiment.TruthSee it at the Musée d'Orsay →About this workMusée d'Orsay, ParisA young farmworker sitting dazed with fatigue. Rest after labor, without sentiment.TruthSee it at the Musée d'Orsay →
Edward Hopper, Automat, 1927Des Moines Art CenterA woman alone with her coffee at night. Hopper lets us sit with her.TruthSee it at the Des Moines Art Center →About this workDes Moines Art CenterA woman alone with her coffee at night. Hopper lets us sit with her.TruthSee it at the Des Moines Art Center →
Winslow Homer, Snap the Whip, 1872Butler Institute of American Art, OhioSchoolboys playing in a field. Childhood freedom, remembered by a country after war.BeautySee it at the Butler Institute of American Art →About this workButler Institute of American Art, OhioSchoolboys playing in a field. Childhood freedom, remembered by a country after war.BeautySee it at the Butler Institute of American Art →
John Singer Sargent, Carnation, Lily, Lily, Rose, 1885 to 1886Tate, LondonTwo girls lighting lanterns at twilight. Painted only in the few minutes of right light each evening.BeautySee it at Tate →About this workTate, LondonTwo girls lighting lanterns at twilight. Painted only in the few minutes of right light each evening.BeautySee it at Tate →
Lila Alexis Thomas, A Love Surrounded, 2026Seattle painterSix friends at a candlelit table, glances and smiles: belonging, painted now.BeautySee more from the artist →About this workSeattle painterSix friends at a candlelit table, glances and smiles: belonging, painted now.BeautySee more from the artist →
