“Images from archives, museums, and libraries. Curated by TeeTee Ella.”
Just because you are going out on the town, doesn’t mean you have to be reckless – make sure you bring your gas mask and a comfortable pair of shoes.
Source: “Woman in gas mask during World War II” (1940) by Unknown. Credit State Library Victoria, CC BY 2.0.
An example of the human skeleton and muscles. For some reason, there is also a rhino. HIGH DETAIL IMAGES, click to view images more clearly.
Source: “Muscles Table IV” (1742) by Jan Wandelaar. Back view. Credit National Gallery of Art, public domain.
If you are like me, and have a love for creepy art pieces, then it has probably led you to lots of imagery with titles or descriptions including the words “Triumph of Death”.
“Triumph of Death” refers to a section of a 14th Century poem called “Triumphs” by Francis Petrarch. And since I wanted to share this image anyway, I figured I could include a few lines.
How near you are your end; behold, I am...
Millions of dead heap'd on th' adjacent plain;
No verse nor prose may comprehend the slain
As in those trifling follies not to trust;
And if they be deceived, in end 'tis just:
Ah! more than blind, what gain you by your toil?
You must return once to your mother's soil
How many moaning plaints, what store of cries
Were utter'd there, when Fate shut those fair eyes
For which so oft I sung; whose beauty burn'd
My tortured heart so long; while others mourn'd
By force extinguish'd, but as lights decay,
And undiscerned waste themselves away
If you would like to read the poem in full, check out “The Sonnets, Triumphs, and Other Poems of Petrarch” for free via Project Gutenberg. That is where I got these lines from.
Image Source: “Illustration of Petrarch’s Triumph of Death” (16th Century) by Unknown. Credit Bibliothèque Nationale de France, public domain.
Imps love to dance in many shapes, circles being their favorite. It offers more of a social connection. In fact, most Imp parties are for networking, so while they hold hands they slip their business cards to each other.
Source: “Circle Dance of the Imps” (1651) by David Ryckaert III. Credit Musée d’Art Roger-Quilliot, CC BY-SA 4.0.
This is called “La Biblioteque Infernale” – The Infernal Library. It is part of a stereograph collection called “The Diableries” series. According to Wiktionary, Diableries is the plural form of Diablerie, which means devilry, mischief, and witchcraft.
Would you get a library card from The Infernal Library?
Source: “La biblioteque infernale” (1900) by Adolphe Block. Credit Digital Commonwealth, public domain.
This was a time when photos were uncommon, and photo editing even more rare! The reaction this horrific trick photo received must have been quite dramatic. Even looking at it now, I made a wtf face when I first laid my innocent eyes upon it.
Source: “Trick photo…” (1875) by unknown. Credit George Eastman House Collection, public domain.
“She tore the azure robe of the night…” – Caption
When I found this photo, I wanted to share it, simply because it was a beautiful display of old fireworks. Unfortunately, it has a dark story behind it.
It was in celebration of the Louisiana Purchase, which led to the displacement and suffering of Native American tribes and the spread of slavery. That is why I am adding it to this section.
“She tore the azure…” (1904) by L. C. Wasson. Credit Library of Congress, public domain.
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