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:

Jan 24, 2026Andermatt village in the Alps, Switzerland
Urban planning never stops
MPs most photographed big cat
This snow will never melt
Jul 5, 2024Daintree Rainforest and Noah Beach, Queensland, Australia
Feb 12, 2026Darwin Day
Dec 1, 2025Antarctica Day
Jul 31, 2024Hoodoos, Sunset Point, Bryce Canyon National Park, Utah, USA
Dec 7, 2024Orchha Fort complex, Orchha, Madhya Pradesh
Jul 14, 2024Shark Awareness Day
May 27, 2025Mona Vale rockpool, Sydney, Australia
‘Only one Earth’
Aug 23, 2023Cenotaphs, Orchha, Madhya Pradesh
Aug 23, 2025St. Barbaras Cathedral, Kutná Hora, Czechia
Meet an expert on the dog days of summer
Dec 9, 2023India gate, New Delhi, India
Jun 11, 2024A group of Southern gemsbok in the savannah, Botswana
A breathtaking cave when it’s cold
May 2, 2024Craters of the Moon National Monument, Idaho, USA
Panoramic Penzance
Oct 31, 2024Happy Diwali!
Dec 7, 2025A pine forest in Alsace, France
Mar 29, 2024South Stack Lighthouse, Holyhead, Wales, UK
Dec 16, 2024Salzburg, Austria
Oct 30, 2025Pushkar Camel Fair
Oct 5, 2025Jahangir Mahal, Orchha, Madhya Pradesh
Aug 28, 2023Dubrovnik, Croatia
Nov 4, 2025Tower Bridge, London, England
‘Moravian Tuscany’
Jul 14, 2025Shark Awareness Day