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A Modern Ophelia. Constantin Meunier (1831-1905,) was a Belgian painter & sculptor. His art elevated the industrial worker to icons of modernity, reflecting the industrial, social & political developments of his day. His Ophelia seems to be a victim of the industrial city beyond.
The darkly brilliant illustrations of Edmond Dulac (1882 – 1953). A prolific golden-age illustrator who had a particular affinity with the writings of Edgar Allan Poe. Strangely, he also "designed banknotes during World War II and postage stamps"!
"Melancholy Man and Mermaid (Encounter on the Beach)" (1896). A recurring motif in Munch’s life and art is the sea, both the coastal settings and the many fjords of the Norwegian landscape. But also the sea as inhuman and other worldly.
Utsuro-bune - Japan's UFO. In 1803 Japanese fishermen reported a drifting vessel that contained "a beautiful young woman" with red & white hair, dressed in strange clothes. They claim she held a square box "that no one was allowed to touch" & she spoke in a strange language.
Antonio Vivaldi (1678 – 1741) died in poverty. Although he had been a successful Baroque composer, like many composers of the time, quickly changing musical tastes made his music outmoded. He was buried in a simple grave on ground that was owned by a public hospital fund.
Terrifying and wonderful images by Louis Boulanger (1806-1867) from "Fantômes" - by Victor Hugo (1829)
Eduard Manet's iconic & much imitated "Le Déjeuner sur l'herbe" (1862) took it's original composition from 3 figures (detail bottom right) in Marcantonio Raimondi, “The Judgment of Paris” (1510–20) Pic 4. The irony was that putting modern people in classical poses caused offence.
Cyclic Return. The art of Takato Yamamoto (1960-) pays homage to the 19th century English tradition of gothic illustrations, typified by Aubrey Beardsley & Arthur Rackham. Beardsley (1872-1898) was, in turn, originally influenced by Japanese woodcuts.
The Dark Arts of Piotr Jabłoński. Jabłoński is a Polish illustrator and concept artist. These are extraordinary digital paintings.