Stories of Art

Why are the paintings of Vincent van Gogh so universally popular? And how close did Vincent come to being a preacher instead of an artist? Join Alastair and James in the first of four episodes charting the life and work of the man who has come to define our idea of the struggling, tortured artist - Vincent van Gogh.
If you want to see the artworks discussed in this episode you can switch on video in your podcast app at any time.
Artworks in this episode:
Vincent van Gogh, Self-Portrait with Bandaged Ear, 1889, The Courtauld Gallery, London
Vincent van Gogh, Pollard Birches, 1884, Van Gogh Museum, Amsterdam
Vincent van Gogh, The Potato Eaters, 1885, Van Gogh Museum, Amsterdam
Thanks to Thames & Hudson for Vincent van Gogh: A Life in Letters, 2022
For more great art content visit www.heni.com or visit the Heni Talks YouTube channel: www.youtube.com/@HENITalks
Hosts: Alastair Sooke and Dr James Fox
Additional Research: Catherine Ingram
Producer and Editor: Ben Harding
Executive Producer: Emma Cahusac

How does the art of Alberto Giacometti manage to encapsulate the angst of the human condition? And did he really have an affair with one of the greatest film stars of the 20th century - Marlene Dietrich? Join Alastair and James as they wrestle with the mysterious power that lies at the heart of Alberto Giacometti's art.
'Alberto Giacometti. Faces and Landscapes of Home', Hauser & Wirth St. Moritz, 13 December 2025 – 28 March 2026
If you want to see the artworks discussed in this episode you can switch on video in your podcast app at any time.
Artworks in this episode:
Alberto Giacometti, Dog, 1951 [cast 1957]
Alberto Giacometti, Man Pointing, 1947
Alberto Giacometti, Walking Man I, 1960
Alberto Giacometti, Caroline, 1961
Photo Credit: Emmy Andriesse, Alberto Giacometti, 1948
For more great art content visit www.heni.com or visit the Heni Talks YouTube channel: www.youtube.com/@HENITalks
Hosts: Alastair Sooke and Dr James Fox
Additional Research: Laura Sovilla
Producer and Editor: Ben Harding
Executive Producer: Emma Cahusac

Why do many regard the Swiss artist Alberto Giacometti as the greatest sculptor of the 20th century? And why did he spectacularly fall out with the leader of the Surrealist movement, André Breton? Join Alastair and James as they explore the austere and often bizarre world of Alberto Giacometti.
'Alberto Giacometti. Faces and Landscapes of Home', Hauser & Wirth St. Moritz, 13 December 2025 – 28 March 2026
If you want to see the artworks discussed in this episode you can switch on video in your podcast app at any time.
Artworks in this episode:
Alberto Giacometti, Walking Man I, 1960
Alberto Giacometti, Spoon Woman, 1927
Alberto Giacometti, Suspended Ball, 1930-31
Alberto Giacometti, The Palace at 4 a.m., 1932
Alberto Giacometti, Woman with Her Throat Cut (Femme égorgée), 1932
For more great art content visit www.heni.com or visit the Heni Talks YouTube channel: www.youtube.com/@HENITalks
Hosts: Alastair Sooke and Dr James Fox
Additional Research: Laura Sovilla
Producer and Editor: Ben Harding
Executive Producer: Emma Cahusac

Who was Vermeer? And why is his painting of a humble kitchen maid considered one of the greatest achievements of the Dutch Golden Age? Is The Milkmaid laden with hidden religious and erotic meanings, or simply a perfectly realised depiction of everyday life? Join Alastair and James as they unravel the many mysteries of Vermeer's first masterpiece.
If you want to see the artworks discussed in this episode you can switch on video in your podcast app at any time.
Artworks in this episode:
Johannes Vermeer, The Milkmaid, 1657-58, Rijksmuseum, Amsterdam
Gerard ter Borch, The Letter, 1660-65, The Royal Collection, London
Jan Steen, The Feast of St. Nicholas, 1663-65, Rijksmuseum, Amsterdam
Carel Fabritius, A View of Delft, with a Musical Instrument Seller's Stall, 1652, The National Gallery, London
Johannes Vermeer, Saint Praxedis, c.1655, National Museum of Western Art, Tokyo
Johannes Vermeer, The Procuress, 1656, Gemäldegalerie Alte Meister, Dresden
Johannes Vermeer, Girl Reading a Letter at an Open Window, c. 1657-59, Gemäldegalerie Alte Meister, Dresden
Domenico Fiasella, Queen Artemisia, c. 1645, Private Collection
For more great art content visit www.heni.com or visit the Heni Talks YouTube channel: www.youtube.com/@HENITalks
Hosts: Alastair Sooke and Dr James Fox
Additional Research: Catherine Ingram and Laura Sovilla
Producer and Editor: Ben Harding
Executive Producer: Emma Cahusac
00:00 Introduction: The Milkmaid
05:35 The Dutch Golden Age and Delft
08:57 Vermeer's Early Life and Family
21:51 Vermeer's Early Works
28:19 Analyzing The Milkmaid
45:22 Meaning and Interpretation
1:02:41 The 1660s: Vermeer at His Peak
1:03:31 The Disaster Year and Vermeer's Death

What led to Frida Kahlo's early death? And with Frida mania in full swing, have we now reached peak Frida? Join Alastair and James in the final episode on the life and work of the great Mexican artist, as they explore her difficult final years and her extraordinary afterlife. 
Frida: The Making of an Icon is on at Tate Modern, London until 3rd January 2027.
If you want to see the artworks discussed in this episode you can switch on video in your podcast app at any time. 
Artworks in this episode: 
Frida Kahlo, Self-Portrait with Cropped Hair, 1940, The Museum of Modern Art, New York
Frida Kahlo, The Broken Column, 1944, Museo Dolores Olmedo, Xochimilco, Mexico City
Frida Kahlo, The Wounded Deer, 1946, Private collection
For more great art content visit www.heni.com or visit the Heni Talks YouTube channel: www.youtube.com/@HENITalks
Hosts: Alastair Sooke and Dr James Fox
Additional Research: Catherine Ingram and Laura Spada
Producer and Editor: Ben Harding
Executive Producer: Emma Cahusac