What is Cool Stories About Art?

An art newsletter for people who love art but never studied it.

Twice a week, a good story about a painting, a painter, a movement.
You have fun. And you actually learn.

130,000+ readers on Substack. 315,000+ on Instagram.

But here is how it started.

11 seconds

That’s the average time a person spends looking at a work of art.

A furtive glance for a piece that sometimes required years of work, survived centuries, endured fires, looting, wars, thefts, and bombs.

I realized I was doing the same thing.

Moving through museums without really understanding what I was seeing.

Finding the Magic

The breakthrough happened with my daughter.

Museum visits were a chore until I turned them into a treasure hunt: telling anecdotes, searching for hidden details, making it a game.

Suddenly, the magic happened.

Art became an adventure.

A Little About Me

I’m Julien. I’m not an art historian. For years, I wandered through museums without really understanding what I was seeing, and honestly, I found it boring.

So I started making art fun and accessible through incredible stories, hidden secrets, and fascinating anecdotes.

Today, 315 000 people learn art while having fun on Instagram, and over 130 000 on Substack.

My 4 most popular stories :

What You Should Expect

• ✅ Discover and learn art every week, while having fun

• ✅ Uncover the secrets hidden inside famous paintings

• ✅ Binge art stories like a Netflix series

Ready for the full experience?

• 💎 10 captivating full stories / month

• 🙂 Your personal art guide. Comment, ask questions, DM me anytime

• 📚 The full archive (130+ Art stories)

GET THE FULL EXPERIENCE 🍿

• iPhone user? Subscribe at coolstoriesabout.art, not via the app. Apple adds 30% to the price.

What readers say:

• “Short, fun, and I actually remember the stories. Worth it.” — Sarah, UK

• “I’ve discovered so many incredible artists I’d never heard of. Hooked.” — Mark, NYC

• “I don’t know much about art but these stories are really interesting. Easy to read and I actually learn stuff.” — Emily, Australia

• “Finally, art history that doesn’t make me feel stupid. Julien turns masterpieces into page-turners.” — David, Toronto

About Cool Stories About Art

Cool Stories About Art makes art history fun through short, vivid stories.

It is also a growing reference on art, with complete guides to every major artist and a glossary of art terms explained in plain words. More than 130,000 readers follow it on Substack and over 315,000 on Instagram.

FAQ

• Can i really learn art history?
  Yes. The story is the hook, not the substance. Every one of them carries an artist you had never heard of, a movement you can finally place, a painting you thought you knew, a secret sitting in plain sight. And a story sticks. You remember what happened to a man long after you have forgotten a date, and the art history comes with it. Then, if you want to go further, there is a guide for every major artist and a glossary for every word.

• Is it free?
  The stories are paid. With the free plan you get half of every one, which is usually enough to know if you want the rest. The artist guides and the glossary are free for everyone, with no limit.

• Can I write to you?
  Yes. Reply to any email, or write to julien@coolstoriesabout.art. I read everything. I answer as many as I can, and paid subscribers first, since they are the ones keeping this going. If you want a museum recommendation, or you have been staring at a painting without working out what is going on in it, that is exactly the kind of message I like getting.

• What if I want to leave?
  There is an unsubscribe link at the bottom of every email.

GET THE FULL EXPERIENCE 🍿