Art reflects all aspects of life – from emotions and ideas to people and places. Here you can explore artworks and stories by theme.
Animals and plants
View all 12-
Image credit: Dundee Art Galleries and Museums Collection (Dundee City Council)
Animals, domestic -
Image credit: Sandwell Museums Service Collection
Animals, farm -
© the artist's estate. Image credit: Rugby Art Gallery and Museum Art Collections
Animals, wild -
© the artist's estate. Image credit: The Sir Peter Scott Art Collection
Birds -
Image credit: Blackburn Museum and Art Gallery
Cats -
Dogs
- View all 12
People
View all 8-
Image credit: Penlee House Gallery & Museum
Children -
Image credit: South Ayrshire Council
Family -
© the artist. Image credit: The Richmond Collection
Groups -
© Patricia Cronin Studio, LLC. Image credit: Glasgow Life Museums
LGBTQ+ subjects -
Image credit: Cornwall Museum and Art Gallery
Men -
Image credit: Victoria and Albert Museum, London
Nudes and models - View all 8
Literature and fantasy
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Image credit: Wellcome Collection
Creatures -
Image credit: Royal Scottish Academy of Art & Architecture
Dreams and nightmares -
Image credit: Nuneaton Museum and Art Gallery
Literature -
© the copyright holder. Image credit: Wolverhampton Arts and Heritage
Myths and fables -
© the copyright holder. Image credit: Middlesbrough Institute of Modern Art, mima
Proverbs and sayings -
© The Ray and Diana Harryhausen Foundation. Image credit: The Ray and Diana Harryhausen Foundation
Science fiction
Sport and leisure
View all 8-
Image credit: National Trust Images
Celebrations -
Image credit: Glasgow Life Museums
Eating and drinking… -
Image credit: Cornwall Museum and Art Gallery
Hobbies and pastimes -
Image credit: Camden Local Studies and Archives Centre
Holidays and travel -
Image credit: Tate
Horseracing -
Image credit: Nairn Museum
Hunting and fishing - View all 8
Power and politics
View all 10-
Image credit: Horniman Museum and Gardens
Civil service -
Image credit: Mount Edgcumbe House
Diplomacy -
Empire and colonialism
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Image credit: Ashmolean Museum, Oxford
Law and order -
Image credit: National Portrait Gallery, London
Monarchy and aristocracy -
Image credit: Museum of London
Parliaments and councils - View all 10
Arts and entertainment
View all 9-
Image credit: Victoria and Albert Museum, London
Architecture -
Image credit: Middlesbrough Institute of Modern Art, mima
Art -
© the copyright holder. Image credit: Wolverhampton Arts and Heritage
Circuses, fairs and street entertainers -
Image credit: IWM (Imperial War Museums)
Craft (art) -
Image credit: Nottingham City Museums & Galleries
Dance -
© the copyright holder. Image credit: The Cinema Museum
Film and photography - View all 9
Home and family
View all 8-
Image credit: The Hunterian, University of Glasgow
Bathing and toilet -
Image credit: Tate
Birth, marriage… -
Image credit: Leamington Spa Art Gallery & Museum
Daily life -
Eating and drinking (home and family)
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Image credit: Southampton City Art Gallery
Furniture and interiors -
Image credit: Wolverhampton Arts and Heritage
Housework and gardening - View all 8
War and conflict
View all 10-
Image credit: IWM (Imperial War Museums)
Aircraft (war and conflict) -
Armour and uniform
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Image credit: Ashmolean Museum, Oxford
Battle scenes -
Image credit: Amgueddfa Ceredigion Museum
Buildings and fortifications -
Image credit: 1st The Queen's Dragoon Guards Heritage Trust
Civilians -
© the artist's estate. Image credit: IWM (Imperial War Museums)
Military life - View all 10
Science and knowledge
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Image credit: Brighton & Hove Museums
Education -
Image credit: Blackburn Museum and Art Gallery
Exploration -
Image credit: Wellcome Collection
Invention and experiments -
© the artist. Image credit: Ross-on-Wye Community Hospital
Medicine -
Image credit: The Potteries Museum & Art Gallery
Philosophy and thought -
Image credit: The National Gallery, London
Sciences
Religion and belief
View all 11-
Image credit: Royal Shakespeare Company Collection
Angels and demons -
Image credit: Shakespeare Birthplace Trust
Ceremonies and rituals -
Image credit: Wellcome Collection
Gods -
Image credit: St Stephen's House, University of Oxford
Jesus Christ -
Image credit: National Museums Scotland
Magic and the occult -
Image credit: Museum of Freemasonry
Objects and symbols - View all 11
Fashion and costume
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Image credit: Wellcome Collection
Children's costume -
Image credit: By permission of Dulwich Picture Gallery
Drapery and classical costume -
Image credit: National Galleries of Scotland
Dressmaking, patterns and materials -
Image credit: Victoria and Albert Museum, London
Evening and formal costume -
Image credit: Victoria and Albert Museum, London
Foreign and national costume -
Image credit: Horniman Museum and Gardens
Hairstyles, cosmetics and body art - View all 12
Towns and buildings
View all 17-
Image credit: By permission of Dulwich Picture Gallery
Bridges and viaducts -
Image credit: North Yorkshire Council
Entertainment venues -
Image credit: Jersey Heritage
Fortifications -
Image credit: Reading Museum
Gardens and green spaces -
Image credit: Scottish Borders Council
Houses -
Image credit: Walker Art Gallery
Interiors - View all 17
Natural world
View all 11-
© Ryan Gander/DACS, London 2025. Image credit: Fiona Jeffrey / Art UK
Climate change -
Image credit: North Yorkshire Council
Countryside -
Image credit: Glasgow Life Museums
Hills and mountains -
Image credit: Tate
Natural disasters -
Image credit: Sheffield Museums
Night sky -
Image credit: Laing Art Gallery
Rivers and lakes - View all 11
Work and business
View all 10-
Image credit: Tate
Communications -
Image credit: Amgueddfa Cymru – National Museum Wales
Crafts -
Image credit: The Fire Service College
Emergency services -
Image credit: Dundee Art Galleries and Museums Collection (Dundee City Council)
Farming and fishing -
Image credit: College of Optometrists
Finance -
Image credit: IWM (Imperial War Museums)
Healthcare - View all 10
Ideas and emotions
View all 10-
Anger and hate
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© the copyright holder. Image credit: Loughborough University
Fear and horror -
Image credit: Nottingham City Museums & Galleries
Greed and gluttony -
© Patrick Hughes / Bridgeman Images. Image credit: Norfolk Museums Service
Happiness and joy -
Image credit: Wellcome Collection
Life and death -
Image credit: Walker Art Gallery
Love and desire - View all 10
Transport and industry
View all 7-
Aircraft (transport)
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© the artist. Image credit: The Open University
Computing -
© the copyright holder. Image credit: Stockport Heritage Services
Energy and fuel -
Image credit: Amgueddfa Cymru – National Museum Wales
Machinery and tools -
Image credit: Sheffield Museums
Manufacturing industry -
Image credit: The Fitzwilliam Museum
Road and rail (transport and industry) - View all 7