Great art is able to convey so much more than just colour and form. It can communicate emotions and ideas, tell stories and even challenge and confuse. Not all of this is immediately evident and it can take time and effort to work out the true meaning of any work.    

For the most part, the artist wants the viewer to understand the context and meaning of any painting. But that’s not always the case. Sometimes artists include hidden messages in their work, hiding them away so that only a select few people can understand their true significance.
 
Below we look at five paintings and discover the hidden messages not everybody was supposed to see. 

Vincent Van Gogh, 1888

Painted in 1888, Van Gogh’s classic is one of his most recognizable works. The scene depicts a seemingly ordinary café on a cobbled street. A waiter stands to take an order while patrons sit around leisurely. 

However, scholars have begun to believe the painting features an homage to Leonardo da Vinci. The twelve figures at the back sit beneath what looks like a cross. It also transpires Van Gogh declared a ‘tremendous need for religion’ in a letter to his brother around this time. 

The 12 sit along one side of their tables, like Leonardo's disciples, and a shadowy figure departs the scene like Judas.

Leonardo da Vinci, 1490s

Of course, The Last Supper itself is said to contain hidden messages. As one of the most famous paintings in history, and a deeply important religious work, it's not surprising that people have often looked hard for deeper meanings.

In 2007, an Italian musician claimed to have found a selection of musical notes in the painting, hidden in bread rolls and other table features. When played they create a 40-second composition. It’s not impossible, given that Leonardo was a fine musician himself.

Frida Kahlo, 1929

Not all hidden meanings are meant to be publicly discovered. This is especially true of Kahlo’s El Autobus. What appears to be a simple depiction of Mexican society laid out on a wooden bench at a bus stop may have a more personal tone.

Four years before she painted it, Kahlo had been involved in a bus accident that left a permanent scar. The woman to the right of the picture appears to be Kahlo and the man in the blue overalls apparently bears a striking resemblance to the man who pulled an iron bar from her stomach after the accident.   

L.S. Lowry, 1926

L.S Lowry’s pictures are renowned for depicting working class life in the north west during the early to mid 20th century. His matchstick figures have entered the popular consciousness, even inspiring a song.

However, his pictures are more than just happy matchstick people going about their day. Many contain small scenes of hardship and despair. This is particularly true of 1926’s An Accident which may feature a scene inspired by a local tragedy – giving his works a much deeper social meaning. 

Michelangelo, 1477-1480

One of the great figures of the Renaissance, Michelangelo took years to create his masterpiece on the Sistine Chapel ceiling. However, there may be more on display than simply incredible beauty.

Art historians believe his work contains several hidden anatomical sketches, including an image of the human brain, disguised in the creation scene. This is believed to be a criticism of the Church’s attitudes to the science and discovery that was happening all around. 

Ahoy! So you want to join this boat? Well, you look a little wet behind the ears for a voyage. First, how about you get a sense of life on the rolling sea by visiting these nine museums of the deep ocean…

Have you closed the hatch? We're below deck on the HMAS Onslow, a Cold War submarine of the Royal Australian Navy. This submarine is kitted out for long patrols and special missions, but these days it sits above water in Sydney Harbour, the highlight of the museums' exhibits. The submarine is in nearly working condition, so how about you take a look around. Just don't touch the control panel!

Torpedoes, mines, submersibles, and gadgets are all on display at the Naval Undersea Museum at Keyport, Washington - the place to learn about the undersea operations, technology, combat, and research undertaken by the United States Navy.

Did you know there's a Smithsonian in Florida? The St. Lucie County Aquarium is home to the Smithsonian Marine Ecosystems Exhibit. Habitats from the deep Atlantic ocean to the shallow waters of the Indian River Lagoon are represented in fish tanks and models.

The balmy waters of the Gulf of Mexico are irresistible to undersea explorers. In Panama City, Florida, the Man in the Sea Museum tells the story of submersible exploration, from the heavy brass diving suits of the 19th Century to the US Navy's SEALAB I.

Located on the historic Stearns Wharf of Santa Barbara, California, the interactive exhibits of this museum of natural history offer everyone the chance to encounter a bewildering variety of sea life up close.

As you enter London's Natural History Museum, you're greeted by the skeleton of a gigantic blue whale - believed to be the largest animal that has ever existed. The museum is also home to many of the aquatic specimens collected by Charles Darwin on his famous Beagle voyage.

In the fishing town of Falmouth, in the English county of Cornwall, you'll find more than just fish and chips. The National Maritime Museum brings the the mysteries of the sea to the shore, and tells histories of local, national, and international significance.

For centuries the people of the city of Stralsund, on the north eastern coast of Germany, have roved the frigid Baltic sea. At the city's Ozeaneum you can learn how the sea was used for trading and fishing, and how scientists unlocked the secrets of its depths.

Thanks for joining this tour of the world's deep sea museums. Sadly, your ship has already sailed! You'll just have to heave-to and stay at the Ozeaneum with this surprisingly serpentine Oarfish. Anyway, you know what they say, worse things happen at sea!

The warmth and sun of the summer months have gone, the nights are drawing in, and there's a cold edge to the wind; but the beauty of autumn is just beginning... One of the most defining characteristics of the season is the new colors that fill the landscape with the falling leaves turning to red, yellow, and orange. These autumnal scenes have been a source of inspiration for artists around the world for centuries, so sit back and take a look at 12 beautiful images of fall that will have you longing for those cooler nights.

1. The garden of Saint Paul's Hospital ('Leaf-Fall') by Vincent van Gogh, 1889

Vincent van Gogh often drew upon his surroundings for his work and even in his most turbulent times he saw the beauty in the world. This painting, for instance, was inspired by the large garden of the hospital Vincent van Gogh admitted himself to in 1889. Struck by the beauty of the falling leavings, he originally called this painting a 'leaf-fall'. In the piece, the colors are earthy and cool, and we see a lone figure surrounded by leaves blowing in the wind.

The artist's high viewpoint is interesting here, it enables him to provide a sense of scale with the tall trees in the foreground and the small figure further away. The artist learned of this compositional technique from Japanese prints and the work of his friends and fellow artists, Émile Bernard and Paul Gauguin.

2. Autumn Leaves by Yokoyama Taikan, 1931

Yokoyama Taikan was responsible for popularizing the technique 'nihonga', a style that emerged around 1900 onward where works were made in accordance with traditional Japanese artistic conventions and materials.

This painting is one of the most impressive examples of his work. In the piece, Taikan has painted most of the space in ultramarine blue and adds patches white-silver that take the form of clouds and rocks. The fresh blues are contrasted by the red autumn leaves which add warmth to the scene. The result is a delicate interpretation of the changing seasons.

3. Autumn on the Seine, Argenteuil (Automne sur la Seine Argenteuil) by Claude Monet, 1873

Claude Monet created this work shortly after he arrived in Argenteuil in 1871. It captures the Petit Bras, a branch of the Seine river. In the background you can see recognizable architectural landmarks such as the Château Michelet.

Light, shadow and reflection are an important feature in Monet’s work, and in this instance his use of muted, autumnal colors is mirrored in the water below, resulting in an interesting symmetry. The reflection makes it difficult to distinguish between the mirrored colors and their sources adding more intrigue to the piece.

4. Autumn Colors by Kaii Higashiyama, 1986

Kaii Higashiyama remains one the most highly regarded contemporary Japanese painters. What’s most striking about Higashiyama's work is his use of color and the inspiration he derives from his deep admiration and respect for nature.

In his later years, the scenery the artist painted was no longer from Japan or anywhere else in the world, but a deep expression of his inner world. It’s why we’re treated to such an array of different bold color choices in this particular work and perhaps why there's a focus on plant life and trees as opposed to recognizable buildings or landmarks.

5. Near Mstyora, Golden Autumn by Kim N. Britov, 1999

Color, mood and energy are key characteristics of Russian artist Kim N Britov’s work. This particular piece captures the landscape of Mstyora, a small village in the Vladimir region, renowned as a center of folk handicrafts. The traditional style of this land had an impact on Britov himself, and this can be seen in the brightly-colored, graphic style of his work.

In this painting, Britov uses a palette of vivid hues combined with large, deliberately harsh strokes to create a sun-drenched autumn landscape, full of energy. The artist's paintings are primarily characterized by his emotional connection to the subject. This is why the sky in his pictures is so strikingly blue and the foliage is such a bright-orange color. Even the church in the background appears golden at first glance.

6. Autumn by Helmer Osslund, 1907

This large painting was originally part of a series that captured the four seasons. Osslund was commissioned to paint the series for Emil A. Matton (a big shot in the leather industry) for his house in Gävle in 1907. While the building was demolished in 1979, the paintings were rescued and the other three are now privately owned.

Behind the birches in the foreground, you can see the still waters of a mountain lake. The reddish autumn colors are typical of Osslund’s paintings and there’s an eerie darkness to this work unlike the other artworks featured in this list.

7. Colonnades of Canberra’s Civic Centre by Ethel Carrick Fox, 1944

Ethel Carrick Fox is well known for her brilliantly-colored post-impressionist paintings of crowded streets, markets, cafes, and beach scenes. This work depicts the instantly recognizable buildings in Canberra’s city centre on a bright autumn day.

The yellow poplar trees and bicycles in the foreground further reminds the viewer of where they are, and Fox's dappled brushwork captures a cool breeze and many colors of a sunny autumn day in the nation’s capital.

8. Inside Akiba Shrine, Ukeji, No. 91 from One Hundred Famous Views of Edo by Hiroshige, 1857

Utagawa Hiroshige was a Japanese ukiyo-e artist, and considered the last great master of that tradition. In this view of Akiba Shrine in the village of Ukeji, Hiroshige adopts a Western visual effect – the reflection of trees in water, which was often seen in the works of Impressionist artists. The artist has carefully muted the colors of the trees as they appear in reflection so that the green of the pines is lightened and the red of the maples is softened to a light pink.

The red pigment used for the maples here is different from the red lead or iron oxide in other works in the series, which over time have blackened. As a result, this is the only print where the original glory of the autumn colors can still be fully appreciated.

9. Late Autumn Day in the Jægersborg Deer Park, North of Copenhagen by Theodor Philipsen, 1886

Danish artist Theodor Philipsen was known for his landscapes and animal portraits. In this painting the artist captures one the final days of autumn as demonstrated by the his muddy color palette and bare trees.

This work is slightly different in style to Philipsen’s other pieces in that this is the first where he used the brushwork technique adopted by his friend and fellow artist, Paul Gauguin. The pair became close during Gauguin’s visit to Copenhagen in the winter of 1884. In the piece, we see Philipsen use short, saturated brushstrokes in complementary and contrasting colors, giving it an Impressionist aesthetic while maintaining the artist's eye for detail.

10. Autumn landscape by Lin Fengmian, 1977

Lin Fengmian painted this piece the same year he settled in Hong Kong. Living in this new environment had unexpected changes in his art. For instance, it's thought the more liberal social climate gave him courage to reveal stronger emotions in his work, which led to his paintings becoming more expressive. As a result crude, bold brushwork and striking colors became common features in his later paintings.

His landscapes of this period often take a step back from reality, and in Autumn Landscape, for instance, the perspective is slightly skewed and feels almost chaotic. Rather than an accurate interpretation of the scene, Fengmian's focus instead is on expressive brushwork and bright, atmospheric colors to convey this rural landscape.

11. Starrucca Viaduct, Pennsylvania by Jasper Francis Cropsey, 1865

Jasper Francis Cropsey’s view of this fiery autumn scene captures the forests, mountains, and valleys of the northeast of America in a celebration of the country’s uniquely untouched, natural beauty. Images of the railroad in these types of paintings often symbolized the industrial growth of America, and were seen both as a sign of progress and of the destruction of nature.

For Cropsey, he took a more idealistic view of man’s relationship to the land. In this painting, a train and trestle blend easily into the surrounding landscape – the train’s white smoke echoing the clouds above – creating a peaceful scene of man and nature existing in harmony.

12. Red over the Mountains as if the Forests are Dyed 萬山紅遍 by Li Keran

Li Keran is one of China’s most important artists from the late 20th century. Although trained in Western oil painting, he was known for his traditional artworks with influences from Qi Baishi and Huang Binhong, two renowned masters.