The quintessential superhero has always stood for truth and justice, but the final part of his catchphrase has morphed to match a more connected world—and his place in it

Smithsonian Magazine

03.07.2025

See a Stunning Photo of New York City From Above in 1932

In her dazzling portraits of a metropolis on the rise, Berenice Abbott captured the city that never sleeps

Smithsonian Magazine

03.07.2025

A New Biography Offers the Most Intimate Portrait Yet of One of the 20th Century's Greatest Authors

Research into James Baldwin's archives reveals incisive details about the writer's personal relationships, both platonic and romantic, with other men

Smithsonian Magazine

02.07.2025

Why the Ancient Craft of Dry Stone Walling Still Holds So Much Appeal in the 21st Century

Artisans around the world are ditching the mortar and embracing an old method of building rock walls

Smithsonian Magazine

01.07.2025

The Colorful History of Tarot Is as Mesmerizing as the Decks Themselves

The original meaning behind the cards, first created 500 years ago, still remains elusive. But that didn't stop our reporter from traveling to Milan in an effort to find out

Smithsonian Magazine

01.07.2025

Why You Should Love Durian, the World's Smelliest Fruit

The southeast Asian crop is a complex and layered one-of-a-kind fruit that consumes the lives of the devoted

Smithsonian Magazine

28.06.2025

A Bold Finnish Artist Brought These Precious Little Hippopotamus-Like Trolls to the World 80 Years Ago

Tove Jansson was a trailblazing illustrator and author—and the inventor of the beloved Moomins, the central characters of her whimsical children's books

Smithsonian Magazine

27.06.2025

How the Beloved 'Peanuts' Found Its Way to Define the Modern Comic Strip

With poignant wisdom and gentle wit, Charles M. Schulz reinvented the form and introduced the nation to Charlie Brown, Snoopy, Linus, Lucy and so many more indelible characters

Smithsonian Magazine

27.06.2025

A Search for the World's Best Durian, the Divisive Fruit That's Prized—and Reviled

Devotees of the crop journey to a Malaysian island to find the most fragrant and tasty specimens

Smithsonian Magazine

14.06.2025

These 15 Dynamic Photos Will Make You Want to Dance

Get footloose with these Smithsonian Magazine Photo Contest dance scenes

Smithsonian Magazine

12.06.2025

Meet Martha Swope, the Legendary Broadway Photographer Who Captured Iconic Moments From Hundreds of Productions and Rehearsals

She spent nearly 40 years taking theater and dance pictures, providing glimpses behind the scenes and creating images that the public couldn’t otherwise access

Smithsonian Magazine

21.05.2025

A New Exhibition Brings Fresh Recognition to a Groundbreaking But Largely Forgotten Surrealist

At London's Tate Britain, a major retrospective takes a long look at the work of Ithell Colquhoun

Smithsonian Magazine

20.05.2025

How the Grand Ole Opry Put Uniquely American Music at Center Stage

Through daring business decisions and an eye for talent, the vaunted country radio program still stands as a tastemaker for the fastest-growing genre in popular music

Smithsonian Magazine

17.05.2025

These 15 Mind-Bending Murals Turn the Mundane Into the Memorable

See 15 images of superb street art from the Smithsonian Magazine Photo Contest

Smithsonian Magazine

16.05.2025

Three Formerly Enslaved Artists Created Beautiful Pottery 150 Years Ago, and Now Their Wares Are Coveted Around the World

The stunning vessels from the H. Wilson & Company were forgotten for generations, only to gain new appreciation for the craftsmanship that went into them

Smithsonian Magazine

03.04.2025

Two Great Empires Traded for Financial Gain and Achieved a Brilliant Cultural Exchange as Well

A new show illuminates the rich artistic wonders that arose out of the 400 years of commerce between the Republic of Venice and the Ottoman Empire

Smithsonian Magazine

02.04.2025

This New Book Reveals the Daredevil Lives of Four Italian Women Who Stood Up to Hitler and Mussolini | Smithsonian

By delivering newspapers, munitions and secret messages to resistance groups, among many other incredible tasks, the brave fighters strove for a freer world

Smithsonian Magazine

29.03.2025

A Swirl of Intrigue Surrounds Swedish Painter Hilma af Klint's Newfound Status as an Icon of Abstract Art | Smithsonian

Long overlooked, the artist made pioneering works in the early 20th century. Today she’s a global star—but some scholars insist she should be sharing the spotlight

Smithsonian Magazine

28.03.2025

See the Spectacular Winners of Smithsonian Magazine's 22nd Annual Photography Contest | Smithsonian

By toying with perspective, this year’s best photos capture the sublime—and the uncanny

Smithsonian Magazine

28.03.2025

The Salty, Sweet and Irresistible History of Baseball's Most Famous Snack | Smithsonian

Candy-coated popcorn, peanuts and a prize? That, and so much more, is what you get with a Cracker Jack

Smithsonian Magazine

26.03.2025

How Canyon de Chelly Brought a Photographer Back to Life | Smithsonian

Wayne Martin Belger set out to make indelible photos of a mystical site on the Navajo Nation. First he needed to relearn how to walk

Smithsonian Magazine

26.03.2025

How One of History's Most Famous and Beloved Movies Was Almost Forgotten | Smithsonian

"Citizen Kane" was a titanic achievement in film but failed to be recognized as such until years later

Smithsonian Magazine

26.03.2025

Orson Welles' All-Black Version of 'Macbeth' Excited Theatergoers Nationwide | Smithsonian

The bold staging of Shakespeare's classic helped make Harlem a home for "serious" theater

Smithsonian Magazine

26.03.2025

See 60 Remarkable Finalists From the 22nd Annual Smithsonian Magazine Photo Contest | Smithsonian

From stunning landscapes to captivating portraits, the photographs showcase the diverse beauty of the world around us. Vote for your favorite, too, for the Readers' Choice competition

Smithsonian Magazine

26.03.2025

Over the Last 200 Years, a Small Library Became One of New York City’s Biggest Museums. A New Showcase Tells the Story of Its Unique Legacy | Smithsonian

To mark its bicentennial, the Brooklyn Museum highlights the pieces that have shaped its collection—and the foundational art made in the borough

Smithsonian Magazine

26.03.2025

Josephine Baker's Memoir Is Now Being Published for the First Time in English | Smithsonian

A newly available memoir reveals a tender, private side of the global celebrity

Smithsonian Magazine

26.03.2025

Discover These 15 Enchanting Libraries Sure to Thrill Any Book Lover | Smithsonian

Wall-to-wall books tell an interior design story without saying a word

Smithsonian Magazine

26.03.2025

A Blockbuster Exhibition on Samurai Reveals How the Warriors Dressed the Part | Smithsonian

The display of exquisite samurai armor in Oklahoma highlights the importance of aesthetics to Japan's famed fighters

Smithsonian Magazine

26.03.2025

The Asian Game of Mahjong, Which Creates Order Out of Chaos, Is Trending in the West | Smithsonian

The 200-year-old tile game is popping up in clubs, hotels and parties as a way for Gen Zers and millennials to connect

Smithsonian Magazine

24.01.2025

How to Use Renaissance Paintings to Improve the Farming of Tomorrow | Smithsonian

An arboreal archaeologist roots around the Italian countryside and in centuries-old frescoes for a cornucopia of fruits long forgotten—but still viable to grow and consume

Smithsonian Magazine

01.01.2025

Feast Your Eyes on These Paintings From the Impressionist Era | Smithsonian

A new exhibition at the Frist Art Museum in Nashville will bring the food world of the late 19th century to its gallery walls

Smithsonian Magazine

31.12.2024

The Gooey Goodness of Velveeta Was a Smash Hit From Its Very Cheesy Start | Smithsonian

How Emil Frey whipped up a smooth dairy sensation after two years of tinkering

Smithsonian Magazine

24.12.2024

The Best Board Games of 2024 Will Excite Players of All Ages | Smithsonian

Whether you love cheese, wordplay, “Star Wars” or Japanese culture, this year’s list has something for everyone in what turned out to be a fantastic year for board gamers

Smithsonian Magazine

21.12.2024

Ho, Ho, Ho! 15 Festive Photos of Santa Claus to Get You Into the Christmas Spirit | Smithsonian

It's the most wonderful time of the year, and ol' St. Nick is spreading holiday cheer for all to hear

Smithsonian Magazine

07.12.2024

The Best Books of 2024 | Smithsonian

Whether you're doing some holiday shopping or looking for your own next read, consider our thoughtfully curated lists.

Smithsonian Magazine

27.11.2024

The Ten Best Books About Food of 2024 | Smithsonian

Travel to the American South, Vietnam and beyond with this year’s best cookbooks, memoirs and historic deep dives

Smithsonian Magazine

22.11.2024

An Astonishing, Rarely Seen Islamic Art Collection Goes on Display | Smithsonian

At the oldest public art museum in the United States, miniatures, glassware and other intricately created works transport visitors around the world

Smithsonian Magazine

21.11.2024

A Curious Industry Once Gave Anyone With a Song in Their Heart a (Long) Shot at Stardom | Smithsonian

How the dubious tradition of song-sharking led to a strangely beautiful repository of folk art

home›Smithsonian Magazine›Culture & Art

Smithsonian Magazine - Culture & Art

Seventy Years Ago, Johnny Cash Recorded 'Folsom Prison Blues' and Became a Folk Hero for the Ignored and Downtrodden

How Superman Became a Character for the Ages

Here’s How Superman’s Iconic Motto of ‘Truth, Justice and the American Way’ Evolved Over Time

See a Stunning Photo of New York City From Above in 1932

A New Biography Offers the Most Intimate Portrait Yet of One of the 20th Century's Greatest Authors

Why the Ancient Craft of Dry Stone Walling Still Holds So Much Appeal in the 21st Century

The Colorful History of Tarot Is as Mesmerizing as the Decks Themselves

Why You Should Love Durian, the World's Smelliest Fruit

A Bold Finnish Artist Brought These Precious Little Hippopotamus-Like Trolls to the World 80 Years Ago

How the Beloved 'Peanuts' Found Its Way to Define the Modern Comic Strip

A Search for the World's Best Durian, the Divisive Fruit That's Prized—and Reviled

These 15 Dynamic Photos Will Make You Want to Dance

Meet Martha Swope, the Legendary Broadway Photographer Who Captured Iconic Moments From Hundreds of Productions and Rehearsals

A New Exhibition Brings Fresh Recognition to a Groundbreaking But Largely Forgotten Surrealist

How the Grand Ole Opry Put Uniquely American Music at Center Stage

These 15 Mind-Bending Murals Turn the Mundane Into the Memorable

Three Formerly Enslaved Artists Created Beautiful Pottery 150 Years Ago, and Now Their Wares Are Coveted Around the World

Two Great Empires Traded for Financial Gain and Achieved a Brilliant Cultural Exchange as Well

This New Book Reveals the Daredevil Lives of Four Italian Women Who Stood Up to Hitler and Mussolini | Smithsonian

A Swirl of Intrigue Surrounds Swedish Painter Hilma af Klint's Newfound Status as an Icon of Abstract Art | Smithsonian

See the Spectacular Winners of Smithsonian Magazine's 22nd Annual Photography Contest | Smithsonian

The Salty, Sweet and Irresistible History of Baseball's Most Famous Snack | Smithsonian

How Canyon de Chelly Brought a Photographer Back to Life | Smithsonian

How One of History's Most Famous and Beloved Movies Was Almost Forgotten | Smithsonian

Orson Welles' All-Black Version of 'Macbeth' Excited Theatergoers Nationwide | Smithsonian

See 60 Remarkable Finalists From the 22nd Annual Smithsonian Magazine Photo Contest | Smithsonian

Over the Last 200 Years, a Small Library Became One of New York City’s Biggest Museums. A New Showcase Tells the Story of Its Unique Legacy | Smithsonian

Josephine Baker's Memoir Is Now Being Published for the First Time in English | Smithsonian

Discover These 15 Enchanting Libraries Sure to Thrill Any Book Lover | Smithsonian

A Blockbuster Exhibition on Samurai Reveals How the Warriors Dressed the Part | Smithsonian

The Asian Game of Mahjong, Which Creates Order Out of Chaos, Is Trending in the West | Smithsonian

How to Use Renaissance Paintings to Improve the Farming of Tomorrow | Smithsonian

Feast Your Eyes on These Paintings From the Impressionist Era | Smithsonian

The Gooey Goodness of Velveeta Was a Smash Hit From Its Very Cheesy Start | Smithsonian

The Best Board Games of 2024 Will Excite Players of All Ages | Smithsonian

Ho, Ho, Ho! 15 Festive Photos of Santa Claus to Get You Into the Christmas Spirit | Smithsonian

The Best Books of 2024 | Smithsonian

The Ten Best Books About Food of 2024 | Smithsonian

An Astonishing, Rarely Seen Islamic Art Collection Goes on Display | Smithsonian

A Curious Industry Once Gave Anyone With a Song in Their Heart a (Long) Shot at Stardom | Smithsonian

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