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The Face of Beauty Through Eva Watson-Schütze’s Lenses

The whole visible universe is but a storehouse of images and signs to which the imagination will give a relative place and value; it is a sort of pasture which the imagination must digest and transform. – Marcel Proust

We will never come to know what inspired Eva Watson-Schütze to take up a camera in hand and explore this ‘storehouse of images’ through its lenses. An inspiration is often the result of an inner brooding which reveals itself in various forms, but keeps the source carefully hidden at the depth of our subconscious minds.  It is not so important to go enquiring for that either. A wild flower by the road may compel a poet to write an ode to such a beauty, but those who carry no ‘poetry’ in their hearts will remain oblivious to its charm.

In 1883, Eva Watson-Schütze took up her paintbrush and devoted the next six years of her life to learning painting under the auspices of such well known figures as Thomas Eakins. By early ’90s, her appreciation for and subsequent knowhow of the pictorial movement started growing rapidly. In the later part of the same decade she not only set up a studio for herself, but became an established pictorial photographer in Philadelphia. The inaugural Philadelphia Photographic Salon exhibited her work which also gave her an opportunity to be acquainted with Alfred Stieglitz.

With growing fame and success came the opportunities of showcasing her work far and wide. It led her to believe that, “There will be a new era, and women will fly into photography.” But Eva Watson-Schütze herself was never satisfied with being branded a “woman photographer.” She even objected to being a part of a pioneering exhibition of American women photographers, scheduled in Paris, on this ground. She wanted her aesthetic visions to be recognised “irrespective of sex.”

Eva Watson-Schütze’s forceful fine art photography earned her a membership of The Linked Ring. Six years before her death she also became a director of The Renaissance Society. Despite the obvious difficulties of working in a still conservative society, Eva Watson-Schütze’s (1867 – 1935) greatest achievement is not limited to, and should not be defined as, going against the tide of time as a woman. Her finest accomplishment must be in observing the face of beauty piercing through the grime and dust of modern civilisation. For, in this maze of life, it is easier to forget how simple, pure and beautiful the sunshine on our back or the colour of autumn leaves could be. 

With a few flowers in my garden, half a dozen pictures and some books, I live without envy.  – Lope de Vega

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An Ode to Literature by Sarat Chandra Chattopadhyay

An Ode to Literature by Sarat Chandra Chattopadhyay #literature

I do not aspire after immortality, for like many other things in life the human mind is subject to change. So what looks important today may appear insignificant some other day and small wonder. Even if, in the long run, the major portion of my literary attainment is submerged under the neglect of unborn generations, I shall have no regrets. It remains my only hope that if there is an element of…

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Strange – Is It Not?

Strange - is it not? Omar Khayyam

Strange – is it not? – that of the myriads who Before us passed the door of darkness through, Not one returns to tell us of the road Which to discover we must travel too. Omar Khayyam   Image Courtesy: R Nial Bradshaw

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Love Your Solitude - Rainer Maria Rilke

Love Your Solitude - Rainer Maria Rilke #inspiration

Love your solitude and try to sing out with the pain it causes you. for those who are near you are far away, you write, and this shows that the space around you is beginning to grow vast. And if what is near you is far away, then your vastness is already among the stars and is very great; be happy about your growth, in which of course you can’t take anyone with you, and be gentle with those who…

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Use of Colourful Languages on Public Platform – A Sign of Smartness or Sickness?

What kind of mentality induces some people to tarnish other’s reputation or attempt to do so? What instigates mudslinging, a continuous and mindless vilification of someone’s character? No, I am not talking of politicians who have a tendency of throwing rubbish over the opposition’s head with or without any provocation. At least, there involves quite a bit of interest behind such activities. A…

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Dear Common Flower - James Russell Lowell

Dear Common Flower - James Russell Lowell #environment

Dear common flower, that grow’st beside the way, Fringing the dusty road with harmless gold, First pledge of blithesome May, Which children pluck, and, full of pride uphold.

~ James Russell Lowell

  Source:

It’s Quoted

Image Courtesy:

der LichtKlicker

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Margaret Rutherford - As the Make Up Wears Out

Margaret Rutherford - As the Make Up Wears Out #vintagemovies

The name Margaret Rutherford is quite popular among the connoisseurs of old movies, particularly vintage British movies. Her characterisation of Miss Marple in such films as Murder, She Said, Murder at the Gallop, Murder Most Foul and Murder Ahoy!, based on famous Agatha Christie novels is admired even today. She started appearing on the big screen at an advanced age. Not being a conventional…

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luckycompiler:

Using painting as a powerful tool to poke fun at the prevailing social, economic and political condition may not be such a rare thing. But the way this instrument was used by Honoré Daumier (February 26, 1808 – February 10, 1879), a prolific painter, sculptor, lithographer and engraver, boasts of a singularity not seen before or since his lifetime. He used all forms of art, including sculpture, to express his dissatisfaction over the health of the ‘republic’. Daumier believed in equal opportunities for all and did not shy away from showing his disapproval of the maltreatment of the citizens of his country through his works.

The man often dubbed as the ‘Michelangelo of caricature’, whom Baudelaire considered, ‘One of the most important men, I will not say only of caricature, but also of modern art’ died virtually unknown. During the time of his death Daumier, who already lost his sight, was living off the mercy of his friends such as Camille Corot. Perhaps, it is the ignominy of the same society that one of 19th century’s most remarkable artists died a broken man. Courtesy his association with Eugène Delacroix, Charles Baudelaire, Edgar Degas, Corot and art connoisseur Paul Durand-Ruel a considerable amount of his massive collection was saved for future generation to review and admire.

A lifelong devotee of art, Daumier was very fond of Don Quixote since early days. A quixotic treatment of subjects is revealed in almost all his works. But unlike many caricaturists of his time and of later date, he never compromised with artistic sanctity, something which renders greater value to his work. Everybody has a favourite Daumier piece of art which may include the famous Ratapoil, Mother, The Fool or something else. Even the lesser known ones, like the Big, Bold and … Constitutional, do not fail to amaze the viewers. Somewhat expectedly, political establishments never took his work kindly. Many of his lithographs were confiscated. 

Despite constant opposition of the powers that be and apparent disregard of the very people for whom he took up his brush, the powerful message of art could not be erased. This reminds us one of Daumier’s own work titled, ‘Intermission’. In the scene, the artist’s chair is vacant, his hat left behind as a cue that he is to come back in a short while, perhaps when the intermission is going to be over.

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Moments of Inspiration

Our moments of inspiration are not lost though we have no particular poem to show for them; for those experiences have left an indelible impression and we are ever and anon reminded of them.

Henry David Thoreau

  Image Courtesy:

Patrick Emerson

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The Enemy Within

But the worst enemy you can meet will always be yourself; you lie in wait for yourself in caverns and forests. Lonely one, you are going the way to yourself! And your way goes past yourself and past your seven devils! You will be a heretic to yourself and witch and soothsayer and fool and doubter and unholy one and villain. You must be ready to burn yourself in your own flame: how could you…

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When I will Cease to Stand in Your Way …

When I will Cease to Stand in Your Way … #creativewriting #environment

I saw you last week. Or, rather I saw the top of your hat. You walked past me without saying so much as “hello” to me. Was I surprised? No. Was I offended? Well, may be a little bit, deep down. No, I shouldn’t say I was offended. You see, when you expect someone to behave in a certain way and your assumptions turn out to be correct, you do not generally take any offence, however insulting one’s…

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Shubho Nabo Barsho – Happy New Year

Today marks the onset of another Bengali New Year. The day is known as Baishakhi, the first day of the lunar calendar month Baisakh. According to the lunar calendar, followed on all festive occasions in this part of the world, yesterday saw the culmination of vernal season. The occasion is celebrated with much delight not only in Bengal, but across many regions of India. In other parts of the…

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“To Big–Hearted, Big–Souled, Big–Bodied friend Conan Doyle” – these were the very words mentioned on the front page of the Novel Notes, penned by Jerome K Jerome. A name made famous by his character Mr Sherlock Holmes, and not the other way round, Sir Arthur Conan Doyle’s life is a well documented one. Jerome K Jerome is no stranger to literature lovers either. Yet, I don’t think that too many people are aware of this enduring friendship between Conan Doyle and Jerome K Jerome.

It seems that the camaraderie between these two men existed for greater portion of their lives. Arthur Conan Doyle, an avid skier, travelled to Norway with Jerome K Jerome in the winter of 1892. The latter was one of the invitees present during Conan Doyle’s wedding with Jean Elizabeth Leckie in 1907. This small party also included such prominent names as J M Barrie and Bram Stoker. It is quite possible that Jerome K Jerome travelled to Switzerland at least once to meet his friend and be a part of his ski excursions.

Theirs were a friendship that aptly defines what Alfred Tennyson had to say on the matter,

So, friend, when I first looked upon your face, our thoughts gave answer each to each. Opposed mirrors each reflecting each, although I knew not in what time or place, methought that I had often met with you, and each had lived in other’s mind and speech.

Their companionship lasted during a particularly difficult phase of Conan Doyle’s life. Charles Altamont Doyle, Arthur Conan Doyle’s father and a talented illustrator himself, gave in to excessive drinking early in life. He soon succumbed to severe bouts of delusions which resulted in permanent insanity. More than a decade of his life was spent in asylum. Charles Doyle passed away in the autumn of 1893. Arthur Conan Doyle’s first wife Louise was diagnosed with tuberculosis the same year. Conan Doyle planned a change of weather for his wife. This paved the way for his first visit to Switzerland. It does not come as a surprise, that Conan Doyle conceived The Final Problem, which indicated the assassination of Mr Sherlock Holmes much to the dismay of his fans, the same year.

Holmes & Watson, Illustration by Sydney Paget

Friendship between kindred spirits may not be that difficult to spot, but such alliance during hours of crisis is not something so common. Another example that darts into the mind is the concord between Henri de Toulouse-Lautrec and Oscar Wilde. During one of his visits to London, Toulouse Lautrec, already an established artist by then, befriended Wilde. He painted Wilde’s portrait several times during their acquaintance. The most noteworthy of them all is certainly the one depicting a visibly exhausted but defiant Oscar Wilde during the final day of his trial. Toulouse Lautrec raised voice against Wilde’s imprisonment. The artist used his name and prominent position in the society to garner considerable support for Wilde from across the Channel. Though, Wilde escaped the execution he could not evade the sheer fatigue resulted from back to back trials. His health suffered breakdown and he eventually succumbed to a cerebral attack. Nonetheless, the friendship that existed between them stood the test of time.

Self-caricature & Portrait of Oscar Wilde by Henri de Toulouse-Lautrec

Of Friendship between Men of Eminence “To Big–Hearted, Big–Souled, Big–Bodied friend Conan Doyle” – these were the very words mentioned on the front page of the Novel Notes, penned by Jerome K Jerome.

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The Spark of Opals

The Spark of Opals

The fiery play of colours, in black, blue or red backdrop, has a hypnotic effect enough to mesmerise even the most disinterested spectator. It is one of the very few gemstones which is coveted both in its faceted and cabochon form. The gemstone derived its name from Sanskrit word upala which means a precious stone. Like many other gemstones, it was first mined in India before being transported by…

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Poetry on Sardonyx Conch The azure depth of ocean hides many fascinating secrets in its bosom. It is such a place where the boundary between reality and lore often gets blurred.

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The Vernal Foliage that Never Knew Decay

The Vernal Foliage that Never Knew Decay

Originally posted on Ipseand:

Your vernal foliage never had to go through the anguish of decay. Even hundred years on, your Shinryoku remains a harbinger of hope for everyone who chances an eye on them. And, you Hayami? Even if death nipped the bud of your artistic majesty, you remained defiant. Life triumphed through your art. It continue to do so even today.

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Sun Temples — Architectural Marvels of the Ancient World (Part II)

Sun Temples — Architectural Marvels of the Ancient World (Part II)

Originally posted on The Inked Expressions:

Ancient wisdom suggested complete devotion and surrender to sun as the primal form of energy. To offer their obeisance to this luminous star of the blue sky, human being erected places of worship dedicated to Sun God. Already in case of Indiawe have seen how the architectural and artistic majesty of these sun temples have the capabilities of astounding…