‘I see them as cautionary tales’: Kristine Potter’s darkly imagined American south
Inspired by the American murder ballad the photographer captures a strangely familiar psychogeography
Thunderclap by Laura Cumming review – a visionary examination of Dutch golden age art
With time-stopping attention to detail, the Observer’s art critic searches for redemption in the rubble of the catastrophic Delft explosion of 1654 – to miraculous effect
On my radar: Simon Schama’s cultural highlights
The historian and broadcaster on his favourite new sitcom, a moving art memoir, and why no one beats Anselm Kiefer
‘The real deal’: young UK graphic artist nominated for five ‘comic book Oscars’
Unflinchingly depicting her battles with depression, Zoe Thorogood, a 24-year-old from Bradford, has scooped most nominations for this week’s Eisner Awards
Dürer painted himself at centre of Renaissance altarpiece in revenge, research finds
Exclusive: Cambridge academic’s study of surviving letters shows pay row with wealthy patron
Art Monsters: Unruly Bodies in Feminist Art by Lauren Elkin review – when freestyle thinking goes too far
Elkin’s capacious survey of female artists who focused on the body might have worked better as a collection of essays
Claudia Mason obituary
Other lives: Bookseller and signwriter who lived for many years on a houseboat on the Thames
Art Monsters by Lauren Elkin review – daring to be different
In a blend of criticism and memoir, the author examines the life and work of trailblazing female artists from Vanessa Bell to Carolee Schneemann
Hell on earth – how a place of torture has haunted us culturally over time
From Bosch to Dante to Sartre, and from Hell’s Angels to Hell’s Kitchen to Hellraiser, visions of the infernal location and condition still resonate
‘Mine’s lobster and champagne’: Judi Dench reveals secret onstage supper at Shakespeare play
The Oscar-winning star discusses her Shakespearean roles and the characters she brought to life in watercolours in her new book
On my radar: Richard Mosse’s cultural highlights
The Irish photographer on the most beautiful film he’s ever seen, a book about utopic desire, and his favourite walk in County Clare – with free tea and cake
Hot in here: music, books, stage and more to keep you cool in a heatwave
From taking an idyllic boat trip to drying out your trunks on a Porsche, our critics select culture that can cope when the heat is on
Tove Jansson’s unseen Moomin sketches to go on show in Paris
Exhibition focuses on life and career of ‘brave and uncompromising’ Finnish artist and writer
Paul Ickovic obituary
Photographer inspired by the ordinary lives of the people he met on the streets who believed in ‘shoot first, think later’
Françoise Gilot obituary
French painter who wrote about her relationship with the artist Pablo Picasso in a bestselling book