Whimsical Cigarette Ad Posters Illustrated by Juan Carlos Huergo in the Early 20th Century
Early 20th-century cigarette ads glamorized smoking as a symbol of sophistication, elegance, and modernity, using stylish imagery and catchy slogans like “More doctors smoke Camels” and “It’s Toasted” to imply quality and safety. Continue reading »
Stunning Retro Posters Promoting the Prohibition of Alcohol in Alberta, Canada
Within the first few decades of the 20th century, the Temperance movement exerted a significant amount of influence over the continent of North America, and Alberta was not an exception. Continue reading »
Macabre Hat Belonged to a Traveling “Dentist” in London in the Early 19th Century
This cap belonged to a street “dentist” or tooth puller. It is made of brown velvet and felt, and decorated with approximately 88 decayed human teeth, once belonging to his patients. Continue reading »
Cool Pics That Show Gentlemen’s Beard Styles In The 19th Century
A cool photo collection that shows how men’s beards looked like from the 19th century. Continue reading »
“It’s Always Sunny In Philadelphia”: Stunning Mid-Century Mugshots From The City Of Brotherly Love
Sometimes mugshots look like portraits. In this gallery of faces from 1950 and 1960s Philadelphia, photo collector Mark Michaelson picks mugshots that make us stop, look and keep looking. Continue reading »
These Awkward Mid-Century Amateur Modelling Photos
Tyne and Wear Archives presents a set of images taken by the Newcastle-based firm Turners (Photography) Ltd. They were taken in mid ’60s by the firm on is own account for possible use in their advertising campaigns. Turners frequently hired models to help promote their work and to encourage sales in their shops. Some of the shots are humorous or bizarre while others are quite suggestive. Continue reading »
Twin Skulls Transform The Facade Of This 19th Century French Castle
Okuda San Miguel’s (previously featured) recently transformed 19th-century castle in Château, France is perhaps my favorite work by the artist to date. Continue reading »
This Jaw-Dropping 19th-Century German Bridge Uses Its Reflection To Form A Perfect Circle
Dirk Förster
Nestled among the verdant foliage in Kromlau, Germany’s Kromlauer Park, is a delicately arched devil’s bridge known as the Rakotzbrücke, which was specifically built to create a circle when it is reflected in the waters beneath it. Continue reading »
Chinese Province Spends $73M To Reproduce Century-Old ‘Ancient Town’
Construction on the Guiyang ancient town project in Hunan province began on Feb. 13, China News reported. The project was undertaken with an investment of 500 million RMB ($72.8 million). The cultural site, occupying 2,160 mu (144 hectares) of land, features pseudo-classic architecture including a Guiyang Confucius Temple, Kun Opera house, museums, ancient stages and commercial streets. It is intended to showcase the cultures of Guiyang over the last 2,000 years. Continue reading »
These Images Give A Rare Insight Into The Life Of A 19th Century Indian Maharajah
Maharajah Ram Singh ruled in the famous pink city of Jaipur between 1835 and 1880, and was also a keen photographer. Despite being a child when he ascended to the throne, the Maharajah embraced modern amenities and under his leadership the city became one of the most distinctive in the country.
Maharaja Ram Singh III/Alinari via Getty Images
He would often roam the streets incognito to observe how state officials were carrying out their work, and was recognised by the British Government, which added four guns to his salute and nominated him as a member of the Viceroy’s Legislative Council. During his reign new water works, gas works, museums and schools were built, and he devoted a lot of his time to capturing the costumes and culture of his people with his then state-of-the-art camera equipment. Here: Portrait of a woman in the harem of the royal palace of Jaipur, India, circa 1857. Continue reading »
Before The Photoshop: Headless Portraits From The 19th Century
The 19th century is generally remembered as a time of science and technology, when the ideas of Charles Darwin and the telegraph of Samuel Morse changed the world forever. However there was a lighter side to the Victorian era. A number of Victorian photographers combined images from more than one negative to create illusions or novelty portraits. “Headless Photographs” featured men and women with “their heads floating in the air or in their laps”. Continue reading »
Mid-Century Grain Silo Transformed Into A Gorgeous, Affordable Home For Two
Living in an old 1950s grain silo probably isn’t what comes to mind when you think of home sweet home, but take a look inside this stunning renovated silo-turned-home and you may start singing to a different tune. Architect Christoph Kaiser transformed a dismantled grain silo into an affordable and cozy home built for him and his wife. Located in downtown Phoenix, Arizona, this quirky and modern 340-square-foot dwelling boasts a small carbon footprint that has also had positive urban renewal benefits for the up-and-coming Garfield Historic District. Continue reading »
Meet Colombia’s FARC Rebels Preparing For Peace After More Than Half-Century Of Conflict With Government
Photo by AP Photo / Fernando Vergara
This August 13, 2016 photo shows two portraits of Yeimi, one of her holding a weapon in uniform for the Revolutionary Armed Forces of Colombia (FARC) 48th front, and in civilian clothing at a guerrilla camp in the southern jungle of Putumayo, Colombia. Yeimi, 23, said she has spent 10 years with the FARC and would like to study systems after demobilizing as part of a peace deal with Colombia’s government. An October 2 national referendum will give voters the chance to approve the deal for ending a half-century of political violence that has claimed hundreds of thousands of lives and driven millions from their homes. Continue reading »
19th-Century People Have No Clue What To Do With 21st-Century Technology
This photo series from Los Angeles-based photographer Qingjian Meng, called “Gold Rush,” provides a glimpse at 19th-century people interacting with modern technologies. Continue reading »
A Century of Gorgeous Portraits from The Photographers 2015
The Photographers 2015 runs from 25 November to 23 December at Osborne Samuel and Beetles+Huxley, London.
Portrait of the Eternal, 1935, by Manuel Alvarez Bravo. (Photo by Manuel Alvarez Bravo/Beetles+Huxley & Osborne Samuel) Continue reading »
Projection Mapping on King’s College Chapel Blends 16th-Century Gothic Architecture with Contemporary Art
Artist Miguel Chevalier recently created a series of immersive projections that added a mesmerizing flair to a University of Cambridge charity event. The fundraising occasion featured Chevalier’s designs front and center in the King’s College Chapel, as they cloaked the historic interior in a myriad of changing colors, patterns, and textures. It was a striking juxtaposition that fused contemporary imagery with 16th-century Gothic English architecture—a mashup of old and new that brought the building to life. Continue reading »
Hottest Woman Of The 21st Century
Beyonce named as “Hottest Woman Of The 21st Century” by GQ USA. Photo session by Terry Richardson. Continue reading »
Christmas in New York: Rare Photos from Turn of the Century
It was a time when William McKinely was finishing up his tenure as President of the United States and Theodore Roosevelt was starting his. It was a time when our families were stepping off the boats to start their life anew in a foreign city. A time before The Great War gripped the nation at its core.
These are rare photographs from the early 1900s depicting captured moments of Christmas in New York City; pictures of a long forgotten era.
Santa Claus and Salvation Army musicians entertaining children on N.Y.C. street (Library of Congress) Continue reading »
“Passing Cloud” Reimagines What 21st Century Travel Can Be
Architect Tiago Barros proposes an intriguing new travel concept that would really slow things down: “The Passing Cloud.”
For those who saw the Pixar hit “Up,” the concept may sound familiar. Passengers float up into the sky and drift over the Earth. In a world where everything operates at hyper-speeds, Barros has come up with a luxurious form of slow travel: a giant inflatable cloud that can travel from place to place, riding on the predominant winds. Oddly enough, the design proposal was an entry in a competition for a high-speed rail network, called Life at the Speed of Rail, promoted by the Department of Cultural affairs of New York City. Continue reading »
