The Vinegar Tasters.

Confucius, Mencius and Laozi taste vinegar from the same pot. Their perception of its quality is determined by their philosophy, and shown in their facial expressions: One sour, one bitter, one sweet. So it is with life -- even in the same situation, different people will react differently based on their outlook on life.

To me, the painting is a reminder not to fill myself with bitter or angry thoughts. There are many things wrong with the world, but these can simply be stored as facts, rather than dwelled upon and thereby passed on to others in anger.

Consider the story of the vinegar pot as an allegory for social media, perhaps.

Given how rare it is to see people smiling in old photos it’s almost jarring/anachronistic to see such a display of emotion.

This ranks high: Dorothy & The Lion from the 1902 live production of The Wizard of Oz:

For something that isn't too obvious (e.g. not hanged in a museum or anything), I often come back to that picture and it always move me, for some reason :

stole this idea from a tiktok, it's a dog thinking the parade for the pope in Mexico, 2012, was for him

One of my favourites is Max Ernst, Two Children are Threatened by a Nightingale.

https://uploads2.wikiart.org/images/max-ernst/two-children-are-threatened-by-a-nightingale-1924.jpg

I don't know why exactly, but it's many years since I first saw it and I still find it intriguing.

I don't like picking a favorite piece of art, but I am a big fan of "Eton schoolboy jumping a motorbike". It contains a lot of concepts that I love: Youth, rebellion, freedom, excitement, the UK, the sixties, fashion, and classic motorcycles.

Source on Reddit

This image I have of the Beartooth Mountains in southern Montana. On the far right of the image is Paradise Valley, and in the distance on the right, you can just barely start make out Yellowstone National Park.

I think it's Spiderman #1 cover by Todd McFarlane. https://m.media-amazon.com/images/I/61uRXFwZzAL._AC_UF1000,1000_QL80_.jpg

Arnold Bocklin's The Isle of the Dead

It has this sort of otherworldly serenity. It's dark and scary, but at the same time it feels inviting. It really captures a nuanced understanding of death that I find beautiful.

This gif of a puppy going from "snoozing" to " face-deep in food" in 0.1 seconds.

I don't think much explanation is needed as to why, because it's beautiful.

Self-Crowned | acrylic on canvas 32x39" By Eva Gamayun (formerly Tanya Shatseva)