Art Installation of umbrellas, London, United Kingdom Feb 10, 2025

Art Installation of umbrellas, London, United Kingdom

Today"s image features one of the simplest yet most essential inventions in human history: the umbrella, or parasol. Over 4,000 years ago, in ancient Egypt, Assyria and China, these foldable canopies were first used to shield people from the sun. It wasn"t until the 17th century that the umbrella, as we know it today, gained popularity in Europe, initially as a luxury item primarily for women. Fast-forward a few centuries, and these weather shields have become a staple in pop culture, too. Remember Mary Poppins with her iconic umbrella that helped her fly, or Rihanna"s hit song "Umbrella"?

© Malcolm P Chapman/Getty Images

palette

Today in History

Masterpiece of acoustic science
Feb 10, 2024Chinese New Year
Feb 10, 2026Es Vedrà and Es Vedranell, Ibiza, Spain

More Desktop Wallpapers:

Oct 4, 2024World Space Week begins
Where is this historical bridge?
May 10, 2025Minnesota State Capitol, St. Paul, Minnesota, United States
Nov 23, 2023Victoria Memorial, Kolkata, India
Feb 6, 2025Scottish Blackface sheep, Aberdeenshire, Scotland
Oct 15, 2025Amethyst laccaria mushrooms, Seabeck, Washington, United States
Gateway to Latin America
Sep 29, 2023Sangameswara Temple, Andhra Pradesh
Jun 1, 2025World Reef Awareness Day
Mar 28, 2024Cherry blossoms in Shanghai, China
Sep 13, 2025Point Reyes National Seashore, California, United States
Dec 24, 2024Silent night, sparkling lights and hearts full of joy
Keyholes to the kingdom
‘Moravian Tuscany’
Frosty Finland
Alps of the sea
May 27, 2024Airavatesvara Temple at Darasuram, Tamil Nadu
May 7, 2025Rabindra Jayanti
Feb 1, 2024Aýna, Albacete, Spain
Unbe-leaf-able
Apr 30, 2025International Jazz Day
Feb 19, 2024Puerto de la Cruz, Tenerife, Spain
Little Island, Big Sea
Nov 24, 2025Gwalior Fort, Madhya Pradesh
Dec 16, 2023Guild houses of Grand-Place, Brussels, Belgium
Dec 18, 2023Capitol Reef National Park, Utah
Sep 20, 2023Aqueduct, Arkadia Park, Poland
Pick your paradise
Aug 28, 2023Dubrovnik, Croatia
Let there be lights!