Explore the diverse breathtaking moments From urban streets to remote landscapes across the globe

A Chinese painting of a prisoner being sliced into two by a large blade. Ca. 1850 CE, now part of the Wellcome collection in London

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A Chinese painting of a prisoner being sliced into two by a large blade. Ca. 1850 CE, now part of the Wellcome collection in London

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A Chinese method of execution: A prisoner is chopped in two by a man with a large blade. Gouache painting on rice paper, c. 1850.

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A Chinese method of execution: A prisoner is chopped in two by a man with a large blade. Gouache painting on rice paper, c. 1850.

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Another Chinese method of torture: Three Chinese men torture a prisoner by extracting a vein from his lower leg. Gouache painting on rice paper, c. 1850.

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Another Chinese method of torture: Three Chinese men torture a prisoner by extracting a vein from his lower leg. Gouache painting on rice paper, c. 1850.

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Another Chinese method of torture: A kneeling prisoner's fingers and wrists are tied together and attached to a pole carried by two men. Gouache painting on rice paper by a Chinese artist, c. 1850.

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Another Chinese method of torture: A kneeling prisoner's fingers and wrists are tied together and attached to a pole carried by two men. Gouache painting on rice paper by a Chinese artist, c. 1850.

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The Chinese method of execution by Lingchi, "slow slicing" or "death by a thousand cuts: A female prisoner tied to a cross is having small areas of her body sliced away by an executioner. Gouache painting on rice paper, c. 1850.

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The Chinese method of execution by Lingchi, "slow slicing" or "death by a thousand cuts: A female prisoner tied to a cross is having small areas of her body sliced away by an executioner. Gouache painting on rice paper, c. 1850.

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A 14th century CE Byzantine gold ring with the name Theodoros Silibritzianos, now part of the Guy Ladrière Collection

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A 14th century CE Byzantine gold ring with the name Theodoros Silibritzianos, now part of the Guy Ladrière Collection

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An 18th century CE Japanese ivory netsuke depicting the Ashinaga-tenaga . Now part of a private collection

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An 18th century CE Japanese ivory netsuke depicting the Ashinaga-tenaga . Now part of a private collection

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Four red glass perfume vials with silver screw caps, arranged in the shape of a cross, circa 1880 CE. Now part of the collection of the Science Museum in London

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Four red glass perfume vials with silver screw caps, arranged in the shape of a cross, circa 1880 CE. Now part of the collection of the Science Museum in London

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A carnelian engraved seal of a Sasanian king. 200-400 CE, now part of the al-Sabah Collection in Kuwait

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A carnelian engraved seal of a Sasanian king. 200-400 CE, now part of the al-Sabah Collection in Kuwait

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"Fish and octopus " made by the Japanese painter Itō Jakuchū in 1765-1766 CE. Now housed at the Museum of the Imperial Collections in Tokyo

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"Fish and octopus " made by the Japanese painter Itō Jakuchū in 1765-1766 CE. Now housed at the Museum of the Imperial Collections in Tokyo

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A Maya jade figure of a seated lord, ca. 250-430 CE, now part of an American private collection

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A Maya jade figure of a seated lord, ca. 250-430 CE, now part of an American private collection

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An 18th century CE Japanese ivory netsuke depicting a horse. Now part of a private collection

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An 18th century CE Japanese ivory netsuke depicting a horse. Now part of a private collection

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One of the greatest works of Chinese art is the blue-green landscape painting titled "A Thousand Li of Rivers and Mountains" by Wang Ximeng. Wang made the painting in 1113 CE at the age of 18, using azurite and malachite colours. Now housed at the Palace Museum in Beijing

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One of the greatest works of Chinese art is the blue-green landscape painting titled "A Thousand Li of Rivers and Mountains" by Wang Ximeng. Wang made the painting in 1113 CE at the age of 18, using azurite and malachite colours. Now housed at the Palace Museum in Beijing

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A Missale Romanum Printed in 1493, Venice. The seller neglected to mention that parts of it were illuminated and colored by hand.

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A Missale Romanum Printed in 1493, Venice. The seller neglected to mention that parts of it were illuminated and colored by hand.

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Graffiti left by prisoners in the Tower of London, ca. 12th-20th century.

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Graffiti left by prisoners in the Tower of London, ca. 12th-20th century.

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"Witches Going to Their Sabbath" is a painting created in 1878 CE by Luis Ricardo Falero. It depicts a scene of witches flying to a sabbath, a nocturnal gathering traditionally associated with witchcraft. Now part of a private collection

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"Witches Going to Their Sabbath" is a painting created in 1878 CE by Luis Ricardo Falero. It depicts a scene of witches flying to a sabbath, a nocturnal gathering traditionally associated with witchcraft. Now part of a private collection

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A painting by the Japanese artist Ito Jakuchu, depicting two gibbons reaching for the moon. C. 1770 CE, now housed at the Kimbell Art Museum in Texas

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A painting by the Japanese artist Ito Jakuchu, depicting two gibbons reaching for the moon. C. 1770 CE, now housed at the Kimbell Art Museum in Texas

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“Oxus Lady” with bird body. From Eastern Iran or Central Asia, Oxus Culture . Made of chlorite, limestone and lapis lazuli. Now part of a Private Collection in the UK

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“Oxus Lady” with bird body. From Eastern Iran or Central Asia, Oxus Culture . Made of chlorite, limestone and lapis lazuli. Now part of a Private Collection in the UK

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A 17th century emerald carving of a Hindu Saint, with ruby and gold inlays. Part of the Lord Glenconner’s collection

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A 17th century emerald carving of a Hindu Saint, with ruby and gold inlays. Part of the Lord Glenconner’s collection

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