Tuesday, May 26, 2015

We Move Too Fast!

This was a sweet little graphic for a sweet little product, circa 1913. I sincerely wish that transportation had not progressed beyond this sort of conveyance (it's really similar to Grandma Duck's auto as rendered by Carl Barks). As a society we move too fast and have made things too complicated...and too reliable on non-renewable energy sources.

Looking at this image last night, as I was processing it, I suddenly wondered who the hell is driving here?  It's a hundred years too early for the Google Self-Driving Car!




Saturday, May 23, 2015

Star Lore

Even for star lore and mythology, this piece seems rather enigmatic, which of course is part of its appeal.

Art by Julius Diez, circa 1915

Friday, May 22, 2015

Shape of the Clouds

"Daddy, daddy, look up there at the shape of the clouds! I see a ducky and a frog! What do YOU see?

"Well, I see, um, well...uh...hmm, that is, well—hmmmm..."

Franz Stassen — from a German edition of Faust

Wednesday, May 20, 2015

No Reason

Pretty much all of us first got to 'know' Superman in some manner from his many incarnations as envisioned in comic books, paintings, novels, games, movies, & TV shows. My very first introduction to the character was during the Eisenhower era, when I was just a little squirt waiting my turn in an Ohio barbershop, where dozens of coverless DC comics were strewn about. 

The artist was Wayne Boring, whose distinctive style many times showed Superman running through the air, rather than flying. Another element that Mr. Boring showed a lot was the city of Metropolis shining in the background, using vertical ink lines, giving the fictional city a distinctive personality. The panel showing here was from a puzzle page in a '50s comic that I remember as one of the first images I ever saw of the guy. 

No reason for posting this now, but when I look at this iconic drawing, I can vividly recall the smell of the barbershop with the Old Spice and other manly aromas. I loved being a kid.


Wayne Boring

Tuesday, May 19, 2015

Idyllic

This is an 1896 painting by Alfred East called Idyll of Spring.

You know what? I like idyllic paintings . . .



Monday, May 18, 2015

Hello Out There

It's been quite a while since I've been here on this site. I've been really busy. I could start posting again, if I thought anyone missed having me here...



Art by Richard Doyle — An Elfin Dance in Faerie Land 
middlish 1800s