An artist's most famous work rarely tells the whole story. The first painting often reveals a student still searching for a voice, while the last can reflect decades of experience, changing influences, and even the circumstances surrounding the end of a life. Placing these works side by side offers a rare opportunity to see not only how an artist's technique evolved, but also how their interests, ambitions, and worldview changed over time.
Originally shared by The Cultural Tutor, this collection follows the creative journeys of 16 of history's greatest painters, from Claude Monet and Vincent van Gogh to Frida Kahlo and Caravaggio, through their earliest surviving works and their final masterpieces.
Scroll down to discover how some of the most celebrated artists in history began, and where their remarkable careers ultimately led.
