The painting became a cliché by the mid 20th century – "the ultimate biscuit tin image of Scotland", in the words of one journalist. The image was used to advertise products from Glenfiddich whiskey to McVitie's shortbread.
The painting depicts a twelve-point red deer stag, named so because of the twelve tines, or points, on his antlers. One of the most popular paintings of the 19th century, it's a romantic evocation of the Scottish Highlands, with the majestic stag a symbol of their wildness and grandeur.
The painter, Edwin Landseer, was renowned for his depictions of animals. Aside from the "Monarch", he's best known for the lion sculptures at the base of Nelson's Column in Trafalgar Square.
Ancient origins of our favorite snacks
Chocolate's story starts in Mexico. Mesoamerican cultures made a bitter, fermented drink from cacao, and drank it as part of religious ceremonies.
Baja’s fine vines
You’ve heard of Mexican beer and tequila, but you may not know that Mexico is also home to many thriving vineyards. Did you know that 90% of Mexico’s wine is produced in the Baja California region?
Chihuahua, land of Ralámuli traditions
The indigenous Ralámuli people of Chihuahua have a culinary calendar which follows the seasons. They mark important points of the agricultural year with great feasts and sacred dishes such as beef tonari.
Iguanas and rattlesnakes, oh my!
Some surprising ingredients go into traditional Mexican dishes, such as insects, iguanas, and even snakes.
A flagship dish
Chile en nogada is a Pueblan dish made with stuffed poblano chiles topped with walnut sauce and pomegranate seeds. The green, white, and red of the ingredients reflect the colors of the Mexican national flag.
The largest food market on Earth
Mexico City’s largest food market is Central de Abasto, which stretches across an area equivalent to about 327 soccer pitches.
The prehistoric sloth behind your dish...
The ancient Giant Ground Sloth was one of the only animals capable of swallowing avocado seeds, and spread those seeds far and wide in their dung. The plant wouldn't have survived without these big furry friends, so next time you have an avo on your plate, be sure to thank a sloth!
A rich palette
Mexico City is home to around 15,000 restaurants, from street eats to the fine dining of 'Pujol'.
Mixed media
Polke layers different materials to create this collaged work, including wood, cloth, and paint.
Take a read
Here's another element of the work that draws the eye. This is a framed collage containing a newspaper cutting and a book cover, with the author’s name intentionally hidden.
Printing press
Sigmar Polke takes images from the mass media and prints them onto various elaborate combinations of cloth.
Coffee crate
Over a dull domestic interior, the word Kathreiner, taken from a wooden crate, refers to a well-known brand of malt coffee that was drunk in Germany during the years of the economic miracle.
Upside down
To emphasize his postmodern ideas, Polke savagely criticizes the artistic tradition by inverting his own name.
Polke or Matisse?
Signing as 'Henri Matisse' in the bottom left corner, Polke ironizes in this way on the need for an artwork to be signed in order to guarantee its authenticity and therefore its value.