Category Archives: Artefacts
Photographies
Christmas gift suggestions for insanely rich aesthetes and the people who love them.
Franziska zu Reventlow | artworks
The fragments of her artistic output which survive are a modest yet intriguing glimpse into a highly unconventional life.
Franziska zu Reventlow | artworks
The fragments of her artistic output which survive are a modest yet intriguing glimpse into a highly unconventional life.
The Anita Berber lifestyle collection
Instant gratification, outré Weimar cabaret style.
Autour de Jacques
The catalogue offers much to gladden the heart of anyone interested in queer/Decadent undercurrents of the Belle Époque.
Autour de Jacques
The catalogue offers much to gladden the heart of anyone interested in queer/Decadent undercurrents of the Belle Époque.
Claude Cahun in Chicago
All of this got me to thinking why exactly Claude Cahun should now be so present in the moment. And it struck me that she, like Maya Deren, has finally found her imperfect medium.
Claude Cahun in Chicago
All of this got me to thinking why exactly Claude Cahun should now be so present in the moment. And it struck me that she, like Maya Deren, has finally found her imperfect medium.
Spring bath linen suggestions
Serge Lifar’s notorious 1958 duel with the Marquis de Cuevas is represented by photographs and, most wondrous of all, cornflower blue monogrammed towels which commemorated the event.
Spring bath linen suggestions
Serge Lifar’s notorious 1958 duel with the Marquis de Cuevas is represented by photographs and, most wondrous of all, cornflower blue monogrammed towels which commemorated the event.
The hands of Robert de Montesquiou
Montesquiou’s hands — slim, pale, elegant, well-dressed — were the count himself in manicured microcosm. Portraitists, photographers and caricaturists were all drawn to the expressive richness of the long, tapering fingers, whether adorned with rings, gloves, or nothing but perfumed air.
The hands of Robert de Montesquiou
Montesquiou’s hands — slim, pale, elegant, well-dressed — were the count himself in manicured microcosm. Portraitists, photographers and caricaturists were all drawn to the expressive richness of the long, tapering fingers, whether adorned with rings, gloves, or nothing but perfumed air.
More impressions
Some more images from the exhibition Locus Solus: Impresiones de Raymond Roussel.
Locus Solus. Impresiones de Raymond Roussel
It is unlikely that the museum will be erecting crowd-control barriers at any point in the show’s run, but if renown were measured by the aggregated prestige rather than numerical total of one’s followers, Raymond Roussel would be a near-household name.
Locus Solus. Impresiones de Raymond Roussel
It is unlikely that the museum will be erecting crowd-control barriers at any point in the show’s run, but if renown were measured by the aggregated prestige rather than numerical total of one’s followers, Raymond Roussel would be a near-household name.
Looking ahead
A look ahead at some volumes of interest scheduled to appear in 2012, including works by or about Joseph Roth, Anita Berber & Sebastian Droste, Aleister Crowley, Isabelle Eberhardt, Ronald Firbank, M.P. Shiel and Count Eric Stenbock, as well as a biography of Herbert Huncke.
Looking ahead
A look ahead at some volumes of interest scheduled to appear in 2012, including works by or about Joseph Roth, Anita Berber & Sebastian Droste, Aleister Crowley, Isabelle Eberhardt, Ronald Firbank, M.P. Shiel and Count Eric Stenbock, as well as a biography of Herbert Huncke.
Catching up
Body Sweats, a collection of writings by Baroness Elsa von Freytag-Loringhoven, is a capital B capital D Big Deal in the shadow world of Strange Flowers. I’ve leafed through 2011’s back pages to see what else I’ve missed (or in some cases, forgotten) of the year’s books.
Catching up
Body Sweats, a collection of writings by Baroness Elsa von Freytag-Loringhoven, is a capital B capital D Big Deal in the shadow world of Strange Flowers. I’ve leafed through 2011’s back pages to see what else I’ve missed (or in some cases, forgotten) of the year’s books.
Schwarzenbach in English
“What contemporary critics were forced to overlook, or didn’t want to see, that is, that it was a representation of a lesbian love affair, is clear to today’s readers. The mask of the sensitive, youthful protagonist is too thin to prevent Annemarie’s face from shining through.”
Schwarzenbach in English
“What contemporary critics were forced to overlook, or didn’t want to see, that is, that it was a representation of a lesbian love affair, is clear to today’s readers. The mask of the sensitive, youthful protagonist is too thin to prevent Annemarie’s face from shining through.”
Un peu de camp
Just about all of Peyrefitte’s works were issued in paperback form with similarly precious images, with multiple offences against haircare. The various editions of Peyrefitte’s first novel, Les amitiés particulières, are beyond camp.
Un peu de camp
Just about all of Peyrefitte’s works were issued in paperback form with similarly precious images, with multiple offences against haircare. The various editions of Peyrefitte’s first novel, Les amitiés particulières, are beyond camp.
The James Press
With an inherited fortune under his belt Edward James, in common with other artsy, dilattentish heirs and heiresses, took to verse. Their output often took the form of boutique limited editions which left bestseller lists untroubled, but Harry Crosby was Dan freakin’ Brown compared to James.
The James Press
With an inherited fortune under his belt Edward James, in common with other artsy, dilattentish heirs and heiresses, took to verse. Their output often took the form of boutique limited editions which left bestseller lists untroubled, but Harry Crosby was Dan freakin’ Brown compared to James.
Sodom’s ambassador to Paris
Jean Lorrain was a master of fin-de-siècle snark, using both novels and articles to take down many of the public figures of his day. He had – to quote Ann Widdecombe (four words I never thought I’d type) – “something of the night” about him.
Sodom’s ambassador to Paris
Jean Lorrain was a master of fin-de-siècle snark, using both novels and articles to take down many of the public figures of his day. He had – to quote Ann Widdecombe (four words I never thought I’d type) – “something of the night” about him.
D’Orsay the artist
Comte d’Orsay combined physical beauty, sparkling wit, the magnetic amour-propre of the dandy as well as a dangerous whiff of Napoleonic adventure and a pre-Revolutionary title, both bequeathed by his general father. It was a heady brew and society fell at his exquisitely-shod feet.
D’Orsay the artist
Comte d’Orsay combined physical beauty, sparkling wit, the magnetic amour-propre of the dandy as well as a dangerous whiff of Napoleonic adventure and a pre-Revolutionary title, both bequeathed by his general father. It was a heady brew and society fell at his exquisitely-shod feet.
CC
Female. Lesbian. Jewish. Inspired by a Surrealism which regarded women as little more than exotic furniture. A life and career whose second act played out on an island in the English Channel…It’s fair to say Claude Cahun knew a thing or two about margins.
CC
Female. Lesbian. Jewish. Inspired by a Surrealism which regarded women as little more than exotic furniture. A life and career whose second act played out on an island in the English Channel…It’s fair to say Claude Cahun knew a thing or two about margins.
Socialist Surrealism
Parajanov was outspoken in his criticism of Soviet cinema. He spoke of “kilometres of wasted film” and a “total devaluation of qualities in the cinematic arts”, describing Soviet films of the time (including his own) as “cardiograms of fear”.
Socialist Surrealism
Parajanov was outspoken in his criticism of Soviet cinema. He spoke of “kilometres of wasted film” and a “total devaluation of qualities in the cinematic arts”, describing Soviet films of the time (including his own) as “cardiograms of fear”.
Oh baby
It’s currently not rocketing up the charts anywhere, with its limited run of 400 copies ensuring that Valeska Gert’s posthumous pop career is unlikely to assume Gaga-esque proportions.
Oh baby
It’s currently not rocketing up the charts anywhere, with its limited run of 400 copies ensuring that Valeska Gert’s posthumous pop career is unlikely to assume Gaga-esque proportions.
James and the giant artichoke
For an outsized entrée it had an impressive pedigree, designed by Sir Hugh Casson, later responsible for shaping the architecture of the Festival of Britain, and Christopher Nicholson, who numbered a studio for Augustus John among his long list of projects.
James and the giant artichoke
For an outsized entrée it had an impressive pedigree, designed by Sir Hugh Casson, later responsible for shaping the architecture of the Festival of Britain, and Christopher Nicholson, who numbered a studio for Augustus John among his long list of projects.
Strange Flowers 