The 17th Century painting that unlocks this mysterious image
National Gallery/ Trump/Vance Transition Team Following the release of the US president-elect’s official portrait, an expert reveals how scouring the pages of art history can
Why David Lynch’s Mulholland Drive is the greatest film of the 21st Century
Alamy (Credit: Alamy) It puzzled many viewers but delighted critics. We explain why the late, great David Lynch’s Mulholland Drive topped BBC Culture’s poll to
Our predictions for next week’s nominations
Serenity Strull/Paramount/A24/Neon (Credit: Serenity Strull/Paramount/A24/Neon) Ahead of next week’s announcement, BBC Culture’s film critics forecast the likely contenders – from a musical about a trans
40 of the most exciting books to read in 2025
Gallery Books, Alfred A. Knopf, Penguin Press (Credit: Gallery Books, Alfred A. Knopf, Penguin Press) From the most anticipated literary debuts to the return of
Why influencers are facing a pushback
Serenity Strull/ BBC (Credit: Serenity Strull/ BBC) Rejecting the “haul” culture of excessive shopping and promoting conscious consuming, the de-influencer movement is going mainstream –
25 films to look forward to in 2025
Disney (Credit: Disney) The coming year sees the return of Superman, Avatar and Bridget Jones, along with new films from Bong Joon-ho, Paul Thomas Anderson
The surprising depths of the Real Housewives franchise
Getty Images These series about wealthy, middle-aged women dealing with personal dramas now span the globe. Here’s why they have acquired such a passionate fanbase
How Vladimir Putin rose to power in Russia
Getty Images When Vladimir Putin took over as acting president of Russia on the last day of the 20th Century, the former spy was an
The 24 best books of 2024
Simon & Schuster/ Faber/ Doubleday From an intense tale of two brothers to a stunning Booker winner – the very best fiction of the year.
How 1980s horror The Woman in the Black terrified Britain
ITV/ Shutterstock (Credit: ITV/ Shutterstock) First airing on Christmas Eve 1989, the original TV adaptation of Susan Hill’s creepy novel The Woman in Black contains