Oil painting, a technique involving pigments blended with drying oils as a binder, dates back to the 7th century when Buddhist artists in Afghanistan created the earliest known examples. Many of the most famous oil paintings known in the Western world today were crafted by European artists.

In Europe, it was the Dutch who first embraced oil painting. Early Dutch paintings provide clear examples of this technique. Oil painting involves several stages, and traditional oils (including linseed, poppy seed, walnut, and safflower oils) typically require 1-3 weeks to dry. Oils can also be boiled with resin to produce glossy varnishes. As oil painting gained popularity, during the height of the Renaissance, many European artists replaced egg tempera with this method. Due to the unique properties of oil painting, some of the most famous works on canvas continue to captivate viewers.

In light of this rich history, we’ve gathered 18 of the most beloved oil paintings to share with you.

1. Mona Lisa by Leonardo da Vinci
   This iconic portrait, housed in the Louvre, showcases da Vinci’s mastery of sfumato and enigmatic expression. Its universal appeal makes it one of the most famous oil paintings in history. Keywords: Renaissance art, Louvre Museum, sfumato, portrait painting.
3. The Starry Night by Vincent Van Gogh
   Painted during his stay at a French asylum, Van Gogh’s swirling sky and vivid color palette immortalized this nocturnal landscape. Keywords: Post-Impressionism, Van Gogh Museum, Saint-Rémy-de-Provence, night landscape.
4. The Kiss by Gustav Klimt
   This ornate, gold-leafed masterpiece exemplifies Klimt’s distinct blend of Symbolism and Art Nouveau. Keywords: Art Nouveau, Symbolism, Belvedere Museum, decorative painting.
5. Girl with a Pearl Earring by Johannes Vermeer
   Often referred to as the “Mona Lisa of the North,” this portrait captures a strikingly lifelike gaze in Vermeer’s characteristic chiaroscuro. Keywords: Dutch Golden Age, Mauritshuis, Vermeer, portrait painting.
6. Guernica by Pablo Picasso
   Picasso’s powerful anti-war statement depicts the devastation of the Spanish Civil War. Keywords: Cubism, Spanish Civil War, anti-war art, Reina Sofia Museum.
7. The Night Watch by Rembrandt van Rijn
   A dynamic group portrait that exemplifies Rembrandt’s command of light and composition. Keywords: Baroque art, Rijksmuseum, Dutch Golden Age, group portrait.
8. Impression, Sunrise by Claude Monet
   This seascape gave birth to the Impressionist movement with its loose brushwork and fleeting light. Keywords: Impressionism, Monet, Musée Marmottan, French seascape.
9. American Gothic by Grant Wood
   Wood’s depiction of rural Americana is instantly recognizable with its stern-faced farmers. Keywords: American regionalism, Art Institute of Chicago, rural America, portrait.
10. A Sunday Afternoon on the Island of La Grande Jatte by Georges Seurat
    Seurat’s pointillism technique captures an idyllic Parisian park scene. Keywords: Pointillism, Neo-Impressionism, Art Institute of Chicago, Parisian park.
11. Whistler’s Mother by James Abbott McNeill Whistler
    This painting, formally titled “Arrangement in Grey and Black No. 1,” portrays Whistler’s mother in stark tones. Keywords: Tonalism, Musée d’Orsay, portrait painting, American art.
12. The Persistence of Memory by Salvador Dalí
    Famous for its melting clocks, Dalí’s surrealist dreamscape explores the fluidity of time. Keywords: Surrealism, Museum of Modern Art, melting clocks, dreamscape.
13. The Birth of Venus by Sandro Botticelli
    Botticelli’s mythological masterpiece embodies the elegance of the Renaissance. Keywords: Italian Renaissance, Uffizi Gallery, mythological art, Venus.
14. The Old Guitarist by Pablo Picasso
    Painted during Picasso’s Blue Period, this poignant work explores poverty and despair. Keywords: Blue Period, Art Institute of Chicago, poverty, old man.
15. Irises by Vincent van Gogh
    This vibrant floral painting displays Van Gogh’s passion for color and nature. Keywords: Post-Impressionism, J. Paul Getty Museum, floral art, irises.
16. Las Meninas by Diego Velázquez
    Velázquez’s complex court painting is noted for its perspective and the inclusion of the artist himself. Keywords: Spanish Baroque, Prado Museum, self-portrait, royal court.
17. The Garden of Earthly Delights by Hieronymus Bosch
    A triptych full of intricate details and surreal imagery depicting heaven, earth, and hell. Keywords: Northern Renaissance, Prado Museum, triptych, surrealism.
18. The Taking of Christ by Michelangelo Merisi da Caravaggio
    Caravaggio’s dramatic use of light and shadow brings this biblical betrayal scene to life. Keywords: Baroque, National Gallery of Ireland, chiaroscuro, biblical art.
19. The Last Supper by Leonardo da Vinci
    Da Vinci’s fresco immortalizes the poignant moment of Jesus’ betrayal at dinner. Keywords: Renaissance art, Santa Maria delle Grazie, fresco, biblical art.