I don't normally care about videogame-themed desktop wallpapers, which are a dime a dozen. Actually, cheaper than that, considering they're free advertising for publishers. But not every game has the loading screens featured in Paradox's historical strategy games. Even though Paradox's screens have the quality of a junior art student imitating actual art -- apologies if any of the artists is reading this site -- they're so evocative of their time periods that they make me want to play the game.
So I present to you my favorite desktop wallpapers of the loading screens for Victoria II, which you might describe as the Industrial Revolution on canvas. And with game logos in the upper right corner. See more here.