A friendlier way into art history
khiar exists to make centuries of painting easier to explore, understand and enjoy, for anyone, on any device.
Make art history feel approachable
Art history is full of remarkable stories, but it is often presented in long, dense texts that are hard to get started with. khiar organizes it visually: eras you can step through, artists you can recognize, and masterpieces with the story behind them.
The goal is simple. Give people a clear, welcoming starting point, so they can understand what they are looking at and decide where to go deeper.
Three principles behind everything on khiar
Clear
We explain ideas in plain language. Specialist terms are introduced only when they help, and defined in the glossary.
Accurate
We keep entries short and factual, name the artist and period of every work, and welcome corrections when we get something wrong.
Accessible
The site works in any modern browser, adapts to phones and tablets, supports keyboard navigation and needs no account.
How khiar helps different people
khiar is built for a broad audience. Here is what each group can expect to get from it.
Students
For anyone studying art, history or humanities who needs a quick, trustworthy starting point.
- Get the main ideas and artists of each era in one place
- Understand why a movement mattered, not just when it happened
- Jump from an era to its landmark works
Teachers
For educators who want a visual, low-friction way to introduce art history in class.
- Use the era-by-era format as a lesson starter
- Share a direct link to any movement, for example explore.html#baroque
- Runs on classroom devices with just a browser
Museum visitors
For people planning a visit or reflecting on one afterward.
- Read the background of a famous painting in a minute
- Learn where a work sits in the story of art
- Works comfortably on a phone
Curious minds
For anyone who simply likes to learn something new about art.
- Browse at your own pace, with no sign-up
- Follow whichever era or painting catches your eye
- Pick up the vocabulary used to talk about art
What’s on khiar today
Six art movements
Renaissance, Baroque, Impressionism, Post-Impressionism, Cubism and Surrealism, each with context, traits, key artists and why it matters.
Open the explorer →Eight masterworks
Landmark paintings and a Japanese woodblock print, each with a short story and its place in art history.
Browse the gallery →Glossary and guides
A short glossary of common terms and a simple guide to looking at a painting.
See the glossary →A note on content. Entries are written to be short and factual, and museum locations and dates can change over time. If you spot a mistake or have a suggestion, please tell us.
Questions about khiar
What is khiar?
khiar is a visual guide to art history. It helps you explore painting movements, key artists and landmark works in a simple, mobile-friendly interface.
Is khiar free to use?
Yes. You can browse everything on the site without creating an account.
Can I use khiar in a classroom?
Yes. Teachers can open any movement on a shared screen or send students a direct link to it.
Will you add more movements and works?
We would like to grow the collection over time. Tell us what you would like to see through the contact page.
Have an idea or a question?
We’d love to hear how you use khiar and what would make it better.
Free to use. Collector $6 a month, Classroom $24, cancel any time.