this post is sponsored by art.com.

art does more than just hang there looking pretty. art evokes stories and stirs memories of emotional connections we have with specific images or artists. i’ve always been drawn to photographer Alfred Eisenstaedt’s work for instance. a German-born American photographer and photojournalist, He is best known for his photograph of the V-J Day celebration, a.k.a, ‘The Kiss’ and for his candid photographs, frequently made using a 35mm Leica camera.

some of my favorite photographs of eisenstaedt’s are those of marilyn monroe in 1953, before she became the icon we remember today. i mean marilyn monroe may have been photographed more than anyone in the world, but somehow Eisenstaedt’s work captures her in casually candid, intimate moments for life magazine, at home studying her beloved books and making personal notes in her journals.

Art.com not only showcases an incredible inventory of art, but also brings to life the stories behind the images. Discovering unexpected and entertaining information behind the images, artists and their intent will give you even more reason to love your art. Have you seen this video in which they bring Eisenstaedt’s ‘the kiss’ (among some other equally memorable artworks) to life? it’s pretty amazing.

so when you’re starting your own art collection, think about what moves you and maybe you’ll begin to collect art based on emotion as much as what moves you visually. the new art.com art circles ipad app can help you with that too. search art by color, or words that move you, or view curated collections, and you can download it for free. discover the art you love.

• photograph of alfred eisenstaedt and marilyn monroe via life magazine.

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