Bowl with Arabic Inscription, Samanid period (819–1005), 10th century. Iran, Nishapur. Earthenware; white slip with black-slip decoration under transparent glaze. The Metropolitan Museum of Art, New York, Rogers Fund, 1965 (65.106.2)

Zhan Wang (Chinese, born 1962). Artificial Rock #10, dated August 8, 2001. China. Stainless steel. The Metropolitan Museum of Art, New York, Purchase, Friends of Asian Art Gifts, 2006. © Zhan Wang (2006.244a–c)

Verner Panton (Danish, 1926–1998). "Mira-Spectrum" Textile, ca. 1970. Printed cotton. The Metropolitan Museum of Art, New York, Purchase, Gift of Susan Dwight Bliss, by exchange, 2001. © Mira-X Stoffe AG (2001.405.2)

Pablo Picasso (Spanish, 1881–1973). Nude Standing by the Sea, 1929. Oil on canvas. The Metropolitan Museum of Art, New York, Bequest of Florene M. Schoenborn, 1995. © 2012 Estate of Pablo Picasso / Artists Rights Society (ARS), New York (1996.403.4)

Charles Sheeler (American, 1883–1965). Criss-Crossed Conveyors, River Rouge Plant, Ford Motor Company, 1927. Gelatin silver print. The Metropolitan Museum of Art, New York, Ford Motor Company Collection, Gift of Ford Motor Company and John C. Waddell, 1987. © The Lane Collection (1987.1100.1)

Ludwig Mies van der Rohe (American, 1886–1969). "MR" Armchair, 1927. Tubular steel, painted caning. The Metropolitan Museum of Art, New York, Purchase, Theodore R. Gamble Jr. Gift, in honor of his mother, Mrs. Theodore Robert Gamble, 1980 (1980.351)

Ahmad ibn al-Suhrawardi al-Bakri (calligrapher) and Muhammad ibn Aibak ibn 'Abdallah (illuminator), Folio from a Qur'an Manuscript, A.H. 707/ A.D. 1307–8. Iraq, Baghdad. Ink, opaque watercolor, and gold on paper. The Metropolitan Museum of Art, New York, Rogers Fund, 1955 (55.44)

Tughra (Official Signature) of Sultan Süleiman the Magnificent, ca. 1555–60. Turkey, Istanbul. Ink, opaque watercolor, and gold on paper. The Metropolitan Museum of Art, New York, Rogers Fund, 1938 (38.149.1)

Constantin Brancusi (French, 1876–1957). Sleeping Muse, 1910. Bronze. The Metropolitan Museum of Art, New York, Alfred Stieglitz Collection, 1949. © 2012 Artists Rights Society (ARS), New York (49.70.225)

Rudy Burckhardt (American, 1914–1999). Flatiron in Summer, 1948, printed 1975. Gelatin silver print. The Metropolitan Museum of Art, New York, The Elisha Whittelsey Collection, The Elisha Whittelsey Fund, 1975. © 2012 Artists Rights Society (ARS), New York (1975.559.1)

Georges Braque (French, 1882–1963). Candlestick and Playing Cards on a Table, autumn 1910. Oil on canvas. The Metropolitan Museum of Art, New York, The Mr. and Mrs. Klaus G. Perls Collection, 1997. © 2012 Artists Rights Society (ARS), New York. (1997.149.12)

Sol LeWitt (American, 1928–2007). 13/3, 1981. Painted balsa wood. The Metropolitan Museum of Art, New York, Purchase, Madeline Mohr Gift and Rogers Fund, 1982. © 2012 Artists Rights Society (ARS), New York (1982.226)