They Seized the Woman and Made Her a Goddess!

Riders of the Wind by Elswyth Thane was published in 1927 and was a property that was optioned by The Banner Group. There was an effort to shop it around for a movie, but I don't see that it was ever made—though modern reviews of the book are positive. 

This ad in a movie promotional book is quite striking for its Art Deco/Nouveau-esque qualities. This ad is rare and lovely, is it not?

Timeless Environment

A philosopher has some mighty heavy thoughts to ruminate about, needing a solitary and timeless environment to uncover some truth.

Looks like this theorist has found such a place, lucky fool.

Karl Spitzweg — The Philosopher — 1917

update: the artist died some years before this image was printed in 1917

Another Green Umbrella

Yep, another impressionist painting by Richard Edward Miller. Yep, another green umbrella. Nope, I'm not complaining.

Going Green, Staying Green

There's something about Impressionists—American Impressionists at that—that liked to paint women with parasols and umbrellas—women with green parasols and umbrellas at that.

Richard Edward Miller, early 20th century

Beautiful to Behold

California impressionism is easy to recognize and is beautiful to behold. Here, The Green Parasol by Guy Rose, early 1900s.

Two Words

I can describe most of Georges Barbier's work in two words: 

Poetic Sexuality!

Georges Barbier

House of Cards

It's always fun to study the little world of The Teeny Weenies by William Donahey. I would think kids, of the contemplative nature, would get a kick out of a book of their adventures.

This appears to be a 'house of cards', which reminds me of the series 'House of Cards'. Have you been watching that? Here's a quote from Kevin Spacey's ruthless character:

Money is the Mc-Mansion in Sarasota that starts falling apart after 10 years. Power is the old stone building that stands for centuries. I cannot respect someone who doesn't see the difference."

I see the difference, but I'll take the money, thank you.

William Donahey

Two Studies

A mural, done properly, requires lots of sketches and preliminary studies to determine structure and tonal values, as well as composition. These are but two studies for a mural by Ludwig Zaiser back around 1910. It's unlikely that the mural itself survived two world wars.

The Woeful Dark Prince

"I have heard it related that a a certain time one of the younger cherubim wandered from Heaven in his play and came into the Realm of Hell: and there, it is said, the woeful Dark Prince of that domain, before he bore the youngling back to Paradise, its little wings being weary, nursed it on his knees and warmed it at his fires, remembering . . . . . ."

A remarkable work by Rose O'Neill, she of 'Kewpie' fame

Bad Day

Next time you feel that YOU are having a bad day, think of this guy...

Spirit Shines Through

Here is another paean of the wonder of books, this by Jessie Wilcox Smith. The spirit shines through!

Bear Us Leagues Away

 

Art by someone in the circle of Elizabeth Shippen Green

somewhere around 1900

Annie did some research to find that this post's lovely painting was by Violet Oakley. Oakley was one of the early female muralists, creating an outstanding body of work in 60 some years of productivity. Associated with Elizabeth Shippen Green and the Brandywine tradition, Oakley deserves more recognition. I will post a bit of her mural work sometime.

Finally

Have a HAPPY Fourth of July!

This message from 1949 is just as relevant today in 2014!

He's not a Saint, He's only a Mister . . .

Happy Mr. Valentine Day!

WinterFest

Simpler days and ways from exactly 100 years ago. It's nice that somewhere, somehow we can still do this kind of thing today, hopefully without having to buy a ticket or pay a fee.

Hermann Stockmann — WinterFest — 2014

Dusty

How many times this has happened to me when I've gone to clean the bookshelves! No wonder my books are all so dusty...

Coles Phillips

Sensual Exotics

This image shows up all over the place, but I can never see it too much. Many of my favorite paintings of the '20s and '30s are sensual exotics—color saturated and contrasted color temperatures.

Rolf Armstrong

People All Over the Web

Parts Unknown

Oh, this makes me want to simplify my life and move to parts unknown. I don't know the painter or the year, but I feel like I've been there in some other lifetime.