(Via Bill in Exile [NSFW]; Roids and Rants [NSFW])
Sunday, July 08, 2012
Saturday, July 07, 2012
Friday, July 06, 2012
Bourgeois Art Gallery
Perseus Slaying Medusa
Truthfully, it's the violence of the statue that draws me to it. Medusa's roar of pain and anger and fear, ironically frozen in stone for all time, is chilling, especially contrasted by Perseus's supreme indifference.
Micaceous Pottery Jar
Even in a static photo, the sparkly, yet also matte, finish of the pot is arresting.
A Wet Night, Columbus Circle
Moody and misty, it's like a scene from a noir movie 40 years before they existed.
January Full Moon
One of my favorite things in winter is to go out on moonlit nights when there's snow on the ground and the sky is so clear the stars are like needles of light spearing down at your eyes to look at the world gone white, blue, and black. Your breath steams up into the sky, like smoke from an incense burner pluming up in worship of the celestial spheres.
Head of a Ram Pendant
Such intricate metalwork.
Cong Tube
The design of this seems so modern, yet it's over three thousand years old. The mottling of the jade is especially beautiful.
Figurine of a Rooster
This rooster just makes me smile.
Jembar Negarane, Cupet Pikirane
I don't know what is going on, but I like it.
Artist and Model
I get a kick out of how she looks like she's going, "Are we done yet? I have things to do."
Portrait of a Young Man
That fur looks so soft and pettable.
The Tailor
It's his face. You can tell he works, and always has worked. I also like the relative simplicity of his dress. It's well-made, but not as peacocky as the noblemen in other portraits of his time, some of whom were his clients, no doubt.
Max After Surfing
Hello there, Mr. Noir Abs!
Meeting at the Staircase
I can't help but envision intrigue and skullduggery between the two women. Another painting that seems to cry out for a novel.
Dog in the Bush
Puppeh!
Hot Wind
A very mysterious painting. I'm not sure what to make of it, but it certainly keeps one's attention. The washed-out colors speak to me of heat and sand.
Emus
Emus!
Self-Portrait
Just look at those cheekbones! That patrician hauteur! Here was a man who didn't doubt his artistic abilities, I suspect.
Cow with Body Paint
This cow looks so sad. Probably because they've been painted.
Mary of Guise
The mother of Mary, Queen of Scots, and a rather ruthless regent, I think her personality shines through perfectly in this portrait.
The Parting
A whole novel could be written based on this picture, all based on a few black lines and splotches of red.
Truthfully, it's the violence of the statue that draws me to it. Medusa's roar of pain and anger and fear, ironically frozen in stone for all time, is chilling, especially contrasted by Perseus's supreme indifference.
Micaceous Pottery Jar
Even in a static photo, the sparkly, yet also matte, finish of the pot is arresting.
A Wet Night, Columbus Circle
Moody and misty, it's like a scene from a noir movie 40 years before they existed.
January Full Moon
One of my favorite things in winter is to go out on moonlit nights when there's snow on the ground and the sky is so clear the stars are like needles of light spearing down at your eyes to look at the world gone white, blue, and black. Your breath steams up into the sky, like smoke from an incense burner pluming up in worship of the celestial spheres.
Head of a Ram Pendant
Such intricate metalwork.
Cong Tube
The design of this seems so modern, yet it's over three thousand years old. The mottling of the jade is especially beautiful.
Figurine of a Rooster
This rooster just makes me smile.
Jembar Negarane, Cupet Pikirane
I don't know what is going on, but I like it.
Artist and Model
I get a kick out of how she looks like she's going, "Are we done yet? I have things to do."
Portrait of a Young Man
That fur looks so soft and pettable.
The Tailor
It's his face. You can tell he works, and always has worked. I also like the relative simplicity of his dress. It's well-made, but not as peacocky as the noblemen in other portraits of his time, some of whom were his clients, no doubt.
Max After Surfing
Hello there, Mr. Noir Abs!
Meeting at the Staircase
I can't help but envision intrigue and skullduggery between the two women. Another painting that seems to cry out for a novel.
Dog in the Bush
Puppeh!
Hot Wind
A very mysterious painting. I'm not sure what to make of it, but it certainly keeps one's attention. The washed-out colors speak to me of heat and sand.
Emus
Emus!
Self-Portrait
Just look at those cheekbones! That patrician hauteur! Here was a man who didn't doubt his artistic abilities, I suspect.
Cow with Body Paint
This cow looks so sad. Probably because they've been painted.
Mary of Guise
The mother of Mary, Queen of Scots, and a rather ruthless regent, I think her personality shines through perfectly in this portrait.
The Parting
A whole novel could be written based on this picture, all based on a few black lines and splotches of red.
Wednesday, July 04, 2012
Bourgeois Art Gallery
Arearea
I sometimes have trouble with Gauguin because I know what a fuckstick he was (and, yes, I know we're supposed to separate art from artist, but of course that doesn't always work), especially in Tahiti, but this particular painting struck me for A) it's title (I just like the word); B) the dog; C) the face of the woman on the right. She has such a great, direct look.
Wardrobe: Die Zeit
I want this in my bedroom. Just clean lines and structured geometry that soothes my OCD.
Polar Bear
I'd love to see this in person. It's just big and monochrome and cute. The bear looks like he or she is about to laugh at the onlookers.
Bathers
Look on the calves on these fellas!
Le Silence
This painting is just so mysterious. The glories of the blue night, but the sadness of her face. And what she doing with her hand? It looks like she's making a very vulgar gesture, but that can't be it, can it?
Nocturn in the Parc Royal, Brussels
As you may have noticed by now, I have a thing for night scenes.
Laughing Kookaburra
"Millipede? I told you to get a centipede!"
Great Sulphur-Crested Cockatoo
A happy bird.
Little Bittern
Someone looks grouchy.
Carved Emerald
The intricacy and delicacy of the carving is astounding.
Miniature Qur'an
Such an unusual shape.
Female Shaman Pendant
Sword Handle (Bird and Snake)
"I'm a bird! Fear my sword!"
Sea Lion Feast Bowl
The Wrestlers
Abs!
The Black Pigs
Another Tahitian Gauguin. It's a little different from the others I've seen. It's more "pulled back" and realistic.
Untitled/Itamaraty
Right angles, straight lines, shapes: another OCD-calmer. And it's a beautiful blue color, too.
Beach Triptych No. 25
Hello, boys!
The Dream
Those horses are not impressed by that lion.
I sometimes have trouble with Gauguin because I know what a fuckstick he was (and, yes, I know we're supposed to separate art from artist, but of course that doesn't always work), especially in Tahiti, but this particular painting struck me for A) it's title (I just like the word); B) the dog; C) the face of the woman on the right. She has such a great, direct look.
Wardrobe: Die Zeit
I want this in my bedroom. Just clean lines and structured geometry that soothes my OCD.
Polar Bear
I'd love to see this in person. It's just big and monochrome and cute. The bear looks like he or she is about to laugh at the onlookers.
Bathers
Look on the calves on these fellas!
Le Silence
This painting is just so mysterious. The glories of the blue night, but the sadness of her face. And what she doing with her hand? It looks like she's making a very vulgar gesture, but that can't be it, can it?
Nocturn in the Parc Royal, Brussels
As you may have noticed by now, I have a thing for night scenes.
Laughing Kookaburra
"Millipede? I told you to get a centipede!"
Great Sulphur-Crested Cockatoo
A happy bird.
Little Bittern
Someone looks grouchy.
Carved Emerald
The intricacy and delicacy of the carving is astounding.
Miniature Qur'an
Such an unusual shape.
Female Shaman Pendant
Sword Handle (Bird and Snake)
"I'm a bird! Fear my sword!"
Sea Lion Feast Bowl
The Wrestlers
Abs!
The Black Pigs
Another Tahitian Gauguin. It's a little different from the others I've seen. It's more "pulled back" and realistic.
Untitled/Itamaraty
Right angles, straight lines, shapes: another OCD-calmer. And it's a beautiful blue color, too.
Beach Triptych No. 25
Hello, boys!
The Dream
Those horses are not impressed by that lion.
Monday, July 02, 2012
Bourgeois Art Gallery
Portrait of a Young Man with Open Collar
He's hot. Looks like the painting could do with a good conservation cleaning, though.
Male Nude, Kneeling, From the Back
You don't hear this much, but: that's a beautiful back!
Camels
An almost cartoony sketch, the camels are very expressive.
Water Spaniel
Look at the curly hair! My friend's dog looks just like that.
The Lincolnshire Ox
As impressive as the ox is, I like this painting mostly due to the rooster. Such attitude!
Table d'Hote at a Dogs' Home
Just the ultimate dog-lovers painting. I love all the little vignettes contained within the painting, like the little spaniel at the very left doing a trick for the bigger dog next to it, hoping to get some food via adorableness.
Stele of Zezen-nakht
It always amazes me when paint survives from millenia ago. The raised relief and the pigment really make the hieroglyphs pop.
Kuduo
This is one you really have to zoom in on to appreciate all the carving. It has a lovely patina to it, too.
Shabti of Henut-wedjebu
Just beautifully carved. Another piece of wood with a beautiful patina.
Still Live with Oranges
The vividness of the orange is astounding. You can taste the juice dripping off the canvas.
A Dutch Road
It's gloomy and depressing, at first glance. But there's a break in the clouds ahead. And sometimes a cloudy, gloomy, gray day is more comforting than unrelenting sunshine.
Destruction of Tyre
Sheer melodrama on canvas. It's like a still shot of one of those 1950s Biblical epics.
Sunlight on the Coast
No one did coastal scenes like Winslow Homer. The inky blues of the wave are wonderful.
Syndics of the Amsterdam Goldsmiths Guild
Some might impressive facial hair going on here! But what I like is how individual each man is. They're projecting real personality. The crouching fellow second from the right was a character, you can tell.
Narasimha
The statue's face is fearsome, even grotesque, but somehow beautiful as well. And I just think the little female figure gazing up at him in adoration is darling.
He's hot. Looks like the painting could do with a good conservation cleaning, though.
Male Nude, Kneeling, From the Back
You don't hear this much, but: that's a beautiful back!
Camels
An almost cartoony sketch, the camels are very expressive.
Water Spaniel
Look at the curly hair! My friend's dog looks just like that.
The Lincolnshire Ox
As impressive as the ox is, I like this painting mostly due to the rooster. Such attitude!
Table d'Hote at a Dogs' Home
Just the ultimate dog-lovers painting. I love all the little vignettes contained within the painting, like the little spaniel at the very left doing a trick for the bigger dog next to it, hoping to get some food via adorableness.
Stele of Zezen-nakht
It always amazes me when paint survives from millenia ago. The raised relief and the pigment really make the hieroglyphs pop.
Kuduo
This is one you really have to zoom in on to appreciate all the carving. It has a lovely patina to it, too.
Shabti of Henut-wedjebu
Just beautifully carved. Another piece of wood with a beautiful patina.
Still Live with Oranges
The vividness of the orange is astounding. You can taste the juice dripping off the canvas.
A Dutch Road
It's gloomy and depressing, at first glance. But there's a break in the clouds ahead. And sometimes a cloudy, gloomy, gray day is more comforting than unrelenting sunshine.
Destruction of Tyre
Sheer melodrama on canvas. It's like a still shot of one of those 1950s Biblical epics.
Sunlight on the Coast
No one did coastal scenes like Winslow Homer. The inky blues of the wave are wonderful.
Syndics of the Amsterdam Goldsmiths Guild
Some might impressive facial hair going on here! But what I like is how individual each man is. They're projecting real personality. The crouching fellow second from the right was a character, you can tell.
Narasimha
The statue's face is fearsome, even grotesque, but somehow beautiful as well. And I just think the little female figure gazing up at him in adoration is darling.
Sunday, July 01, 2012
Monday, June 25, 2012
Bourgeois Art Gallery
The Google Art Project is a beautiful thing. It lets you explore the collections of some of the world's finest museums, as well as a lot of obscure ones, all in high-definition. I thought I'd start a new series sharing some of the stuff I've come across. Here's the first one. (My only complaint: they don't let you save the images, so I have to link directly to the artworks.)
Statuettes of High Priest Amenhotep and Priestess Renai
Two Pups
The Threatened Swan
Padmasambhava
Manuscript Page of Vajrapani and Manjushri
Vaishravana, Guardian King of the North
Saber and Scabbard
Indigo-Blue Sake Ewer
Rye
The Rape of Europa
Snow Fields
Washington Sea Eagle
Fall in the Foothills
Evening Tones
Tugra
Levha
Statuettes of High Priest Amenhotep and Priestess Renai
Two Pups
The Threatened Swan
Padmasambhava
Manuscript Page of Vajrapani and Manjushri
Vaishravana, Guardian King of the North
Saber and Scabbard
Indigo-Blue Sake Ewer
Rye
The Rape of Europa
Snow Fields
Washington Sea Eagle
Fall in the Foothills
Evening Tones
Tugra
Levha
Sunday, June 24, 2012
Friday, June 22, 2012
Tuesday, June 19, 2012
Fellow Travelers
It's amazing how much we depend on other organisms for the continued functioning of our bodies.
Monday, June 11, 2012
Triumph
Thumbs up and laurel wreaths to Adrian Murdoch for completing the Emperors of Rome series! An awesome undertaking, but one he did with both erudition and concision. Plowing through all those Barracks Emperors alone is worthy of ovation, not to mention hacking through the thickets of usurpers. And, yes, one could cry foul that he's contained himself to the Western Empire, or that each usurper didn't get their own episode, but we'd be here all decade, and one has to draw lines somewhere.
If you haven't followed along, go back and watch all the episodes. Even committed Romanophiles will learn something, especially about all those obscure emperors.
If you haven't followed along, go back and watch all the episodes. Even committed Romanophiles will learn something, especially about all those obscure emperors.
Monday, May 28, 2012
Sunday, May 27, 2012
Wednesday, May 23, 2012
This Is What Happens When A Zebra Tries To Change Its Stripes
Continuing my fascination with animals of unusual pigmentation: a zebra of a different color.
(Via Towleroad)
(Via Towleroad)
Monday, May 14, 2012
Hey Nerd, Don't Be An Asshole!
Through some lucky quirk of fate, my contact with fellow geeks and nerds, even on the Internet, has almost always been positive and generally pleasant. I've never had the misfortune to much come in contact with the nerd-rage, entitled fan cesspool that gathers in some quarters. Heck, most of my nerd-friends have been girls! But I am aware (especially via the rantings of Dorian), and saddened by, this contingent, even if I know they're only one facet of the larger community, and also that every group has assholes. So this article meets with my most enthusiastic and hearty approval. Nerds shouldn't be close-minded jerks! What a concept!
Sunday, May 13, 2012
Thursday, May 10, 2012
Tuesday, May 08, 2012
Ancient Aliens
My typical reaction to watching fifteen minutes (my upper limit) of Ancient Aliens is a random series of jaw-droppings, eyebrow-raisings, and eye-poppings. Thankfully, someone else has managed to pretty much sum it up, in coherent (and hilarious) form.
Sunday, April 29, 2012
Wednesday, April 25, 2012
Monday, April 23, 2012
No One Tell Ahab!
In keeping with Bourgeois Nerd's long fascination with unusually white animals, here is a white orca!
(via The Hairpin)
(via The Hairpin)
Sunday, April 22, 2012
Monday, April 16, 2012
I Just Can't Get Them Out Of My Head
I am a martyr to earworms. Sundays have the Game of Thrones theme (best theme ever? y/y?); Monday has RuPaul's songs du season (this season "Glamazon" and "The Beginning"); the rest of the week can be anything from Kate Bush to wrestler YouTube channel theme songs. I can't get no relief!
Friday, April 13, 2012
Sunday, April 08, 2012
Friday, April 06, 2012
Thursday, April 05, 2012
Youthful Indiscretions
What books read by the younger you do you look back on and cringe at?
I have to say, though there are many books that I now recognize as absolutely terrible (I'm looking at you, Valdemar books and Anita Blake), there are none I'm actually ashamed of having read and enjoyed. One should never be ashamed of things that brought one joy, even if they no longer do, even if you now violently disagree with their premises, or your taste has totally changed. They were there when you needed them, and even if you've outgrown them, you should be grateful for what they gave you at the time.
I have to say, though there are many books that I now recognize as absolutely terrible (I'm looking at you, Valdemar books and Anita Blake), there are none I'm actually ashamed of having read and enjoyed. One should never be ashamed of things that brought one joy, even if they no longer do, even if you now violently disagree with their premises, or your taste has totally changed. They were there when you needed them, and even if you've outgrown them, you should be grateful for what they gave you at the time.
Sunday, April 01, 2012
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