Question 1

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 2

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 3

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 4

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 5

What is the main idea behind Surrealism?

Accepted Answer

The main idea behind Surrealism is to enable subconscious creativity.

Question 6

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 7

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 8

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 9

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 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 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 12

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 13

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 14

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 15

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 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 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 18

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.

From Behind

Early 20th Century Post-Impressionist Nude Paintings

Nude woman, from behind, circa 1900

1950s Modern Figurative Drawings and Watercolors

Milton AveryStanding Nude seen from Behind, circa 1950

1920s Post-Impressionist Portrait Paintings

Ernest LaurentWomen seen from behind, 1920

1940s Photography

George Platt LynesPortrait of a Woman From Behind

1990s Black and White Photography

Rodney SmithSamuel from Behind, 1997

1960s Other Art Style Portrait Photography

James BidgoodPan from Behind, late 1960s

1940s Nude Paintings

John LaGattaWoman from Behind, 1940

1940s Nude Drawings and Watercolors

Emile ChambonNaked woman from behind, 1944

2010s Figurative Photography

Liz Von HoeneFLower Girl from Behind

20th Century Modern Figurative Prints

Aurelio MistruzziWoman from behind - Drawing by Aurelio Mistruzzi - 20th Century, 20th Century

Late 20th Century Modern Nude Drawings and Watercolors

William A. BerryFemale Standing Nude from Behind, c. 1980

Late 20th Century Nude Drawings and Watercolors

Alice RymowiczNaked woman lying from behind

20th Century Figurative Drawings and Watercolors

Henri Fehr Young woman naked from behind

Early 20th Century American Impressionist Figurative Paintings

Hermann Dudley Murphy[Nude Woman Viewed from Behind], circa 1920

Mid-20th Century Modern Nude Paintings

Giannino MarchigNaked young woman from behind

Early 2000s American Impressionist Nude Drawings and Watercolors

Heather SpeckNude Woman from Behind in Charcoal on Paper, 2000s

2010s Abstract Expressionist Paintings

Ingrid KnausAdria, Sunshades from behind, Painting, Oil on Canvas, 2017

2010s Expressionist Drawings and Watercolor Paintings

Barbara KrollA look from behind, Drawing, Pencil/Colored Pencil on Paper, 2020

1970s Modern Figurative Drawings and Watercolors

Dimitri Godicky CwirkoWoman from Behind - Pencil Drawing by Dimitri Godicky Cwirko - 1970, 1970

1950s American Modern Nude Drawings and Watercolors

John Begg, 1903Ink and gouache drawing of a nude woman from behind, 1953

1970s Contemporary Portrait Drawings and Watercolors

Leo GuidaPortrait from Behind - Drawing by Leo Guida - 1972, 1972

1990s Nude Drawings and Watercolors

Nude from Behind in Orange Pastel, Circa 1990

20th Century Modern Nude Paintings

LARGE FRENCH MODERNIST SIGNED OIL PAINTING - NUDE FIGURE SEATED FROM BEHIND, 20th century

Early 1900s French School Nude Drawings and Watercolors

Giovanni BoldiniNude from behind - Presumed portrait of Lina Cavalieri, 1901

1920s Modern Figurative Drawings and Watercolors

Auguste Jean Baptiste RoubilleWoman from Behind - Pencil by Auguste Jean Baptiste Roubille - 1926, 1926

1970s Contemporary Figurative Paintings

Katherine KallickNude on Floral Blanket, From Behind in Acrylic on Paper, 1973-77

Mid-19th Century Modern Figurative Drawings and Watercolors

Etienne Omer WauquierCouple in Hat Walking from Behind - Pencil by Wauquier - Mid-19th Century, Mid-19th Century

Late 19th Century Modern Figurative Drawings and Watercolors

Eugène GiraudMusketeer from Behind- Drawing on Paper by E. Giraud - Late 19th Century, Late 19th Century

2010s Abstract Expressionist Abstract Paintings

Eliz GündüzTulip shaped clouds, follow you from behind, 2021

20th Century Nude Paintings

Albert CresswellNymph from behind with statue and cherub

20th Century Surrealist Figurative Drawings and Watercolors

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

1950s Abstract Expressionist Nude Paintings

Honora BergBay Area Abstract Expressionist Standing Nude from Behind in Oil on Cardboard, Mid 20th Century

21st Century and Contemporary Contemporary Portrait Photography

Ellen von UnwerthUntitled - colorful portrait of a model from behind wearing a corset

21st Century and Contemporary Black and White Photography

Alli Wood'Carmel Nude Ranch' Californian Cowgirl Standing from Behind

2010s Contemporary Figurative Paintings

Valerie Huhn3D works on found book pages: 'From Behind', 2022

1920s Nude Drawings and Watercolors

Pierre Combet-DescombesPierre COMBET-DESCOMBES (1885-1966), Female Nude from behind, 1928, Charcoal, 1928

20th Century Impressionist Portrait Drawings and Watercolors

French SchoolStudy of a Seated Figure from Behind Pencil Sketch

21st Century and Contemporary Contemporary Color Photography

Guido ArgentiniNaked woman Eris- covered with gold, visible from behind, 2020

1990s Contemporary Nude Photography

Bill CostaUntitled (Nude Male Standing in Front of Window from Behind), c. 1996

Early 2000s Photography

Milton Avery
Standing Nude seen from Behind, circa 1950

Ernest Laurent
Women seen from behind, 1920

George Platt Lynes
Portrait of a Woman From Behind

Rodney Smith
Samuel from Behind, 1997

James Bidgood
Pan from Behind, late 1960s

John LaGatta
Woman from Behind, 1940

Emile Chambon
Naked woman from behind, 1944

Liz Von Hoene
FLower Girl from Behind

Aurelio Mistruzzi
Woman from behind - Drawing by Aurelio Mistruzzi - 20th Century, 20th Century

William A. Berry
Female Standing Nude from Behind, c. 1980

Alice Rymowicz
Naked woman lying from behind

Henri Fehr
Young woman naked from behind

Hermann Dudley Murphy
[Nude Woman Viewed from Behind], circa 1920

Giannino Marchig
Naked young woman from behind

Heather Speck
Nude Woman from Behind in Charcoal on Paper, 2000s

Ingrid Knaus
Adria, Sunshades from behind, Painting, Oil on Canvas, 2017

Barbara Kroll
A look from behind, Drawing, Pencil/Colored Pencil on Paper, 2020

Dimitri Godicky Cwirko
Woman from Behind - Pencil Drawing by Dimitri Godicky Cwirko - 1970, 1970

John Begg, 1903
Ink and gouache drawing of a nude woman from behind, 1953

Leo Guida
Portrait from Behind - Drawing by Leo Guida - 1972, 1972

Giovanni Boldini
Nude from behind - Presumed portrait of Lina Cavalieri, 1901

Auguste Jean Baptiste Roubille
Woman from Behind - Pencil by Auguste Jean Baptiste Roubille - 1926, 1926

Katherine Kallick
Nude on Floral Blanket, From Behind in Acrylic on Paper, 1973-77

Etienne Omer Wauquier
Couple in Hat Walking from Behind - Pencil by Wauquier - Mid-19th Century, Mid-19th Century

Eugène Giraud
Musketeer from Behind- Drawing on Paper by E. Giraud - Late 19th Century, Late 19th Century

Eliz Gündüz
Tulip shaped clouds, follow you from behind, 2021

Albert Cresswell
Nymph from behind with statue and cherub

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

Honora Berg
Bay Area Abstract Expressionist Standing Nude from Behind in Oil on Cardboard, Mid 20th Century

Ellen von Unwerth
Untitled - colorful portrait of a model from behind wearing a corset

Alli Wood
'Carmel Nude Ranch' Californian Cowgirl Standing from Behind

Valerie Huhn
3D works on found book pages: 'From Behind', 2022

Pierre Combet-Descombes
Pierre COMBET-DESCOMBES (1885-1966), Female Nude from behind, 1928, Charcoal, 1928

French School
Study of a Seated Figure from Behind Pencil Sketch

Guido Argentini
Naked woman Eris- covered with gold, visible from behind, 2020

Bill Costa
Untitled (Nude Male Standing in Front of Window from Behind), c. 1996

Rodney Smith
Edythe and Andrew on Ladders From Behind, New York City, 2008

Tina Trumpp
Die Unschuld - the innocence, atmospheric nude from behind with white lace, 2020

Randal Ford
Randal Ford - Holstein Cow No. 5 From Behind, Photography 2024, Printed After, 2024

Wendy Artin
"Taylor Sitting" sepia watercolor gesture painting of a nude figure from behind, 2022

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

Georges Emile Capon
Nude from Behind- Original Etching by Georges Emile Capon - Mid-20th Century, Mid-20th Century

Charles Amand Durand
Beggar man and woman coming from behind a bank – after Rembrandt van Rijn, 1630

Tina Trumpp
Nu de Dos - female nude from behind with cord in braided hari sitting, 2020

Augustus Edwin John OM RA
STUDY of a SEATED FEMAIL NUDE FROM BEHIND.Augustas Edwin John.OM RA British, 1920

Tina Trumpp
Meet Me in Paris - black and white nude from behind in front of Parisian window, 2017

Alex Hodge
Dreaming in Technicolor & Melancholy Remedy. From the Behind Closed Doors Series, 2023

Alex Hodge
Set of 3 wall sculptures. From the Behind Closed Doors series, 2023

Alex Hodge
Seeking Solace & Sharks in the Water. From the Behind Closed Doors Series, 2023

Alex Hodge
Set of 4 wall sculptures. From the Behind Closed Doors series, 2023

Alex Hodge
Set of 6 wall sculptures. From the Behind Closed Doors series, 2023

Alex Hodge
Getting at the Heart & Eve in Repose. From the Behind Closed Doors Series, 2023

Eugène Giraud
Portrait of Man from - Drawing on Paper by E. Giraud - Late 19th Century, Late 19th Century

Charles Kerins
"Is Geography Distracting You From the World Series?, 1952