In Forum’s Spring 2026 issue, writer Angelica Hankins offers a thoughtful essay about how she changed her mind about Madame X, a famous painting by John Singer Sargent. At first, the picture left Hankins cold, but on a repeat viewing, she discovered lively details that turned her into a Madame X admirer. If you haven’t read Hankins’ essay, you can enjoy it here.

Have you ever changed your mind about a picture, a book or a movie? For Forum editor Danny Heitman, a similar shift happened with the celebrated water lily paintings by Claude Monet. As a young viewer, he found the vivid blur of colors unappealing, but over time, the works began to feel more true to how we really see the world.

We’d love to hear from you. What’s a picture, novel, movie or song you’ve changed your mind about? Share your thoughts with us and join the conversation.

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