via kitsch & SASH
Sunday, September 6, 2026
Julius LeBlanc Stewart
Art Appreciation
Julius LeBlanc Stewart was born on September 6, 1855, in Philadelphia into a wealthy family that supported his artistic ambitions. His father, a successful sugar magnate, ensured Stewart had access to elite education and travel.
Stewart studied at the Pennsylvania Academy of the Fine Arts before relocating to Paris, where he trained under Jean-Léon Gérôme at the École des Beaux-Arts. This academic grounding shaped his technical precision and compositional discipline, while his exposure to European high society informed the subject matter that would define much of his career.
Stewart built his reputation in Paris during the late 19th century, becoming closely associated with the Paris Salon, where he exhibited regularly and gained recognition. His work often captured the elegance and excess of Belle Époque society—lavish interiors, fashionable gatherings, and aristocratic leisure.
One of his most recognized paintings, The Hunt Ball (1885), reflects his ability to choreograph complex social scenes with clarity and rhythm. Stylistically, his work blends academic realism with elements of Impressionism, particularly in his handling of light and color, though he maintained a more polished finish than many of his contemporaries.
Technically, Stewart excelled in rendering fabrics, textures, and the subtleties of social interaction. His compositions often feature carefully arranged figures that guide the viewer’s eye across the canvas, creating a narrative without overt drama.
Self-portrait, 1886
A Hunt Ball, 1885
Gypsy Girl, 1875
Portrait of Mrs. Francis Stanton Blake, 1908
Nymphs Hunting, 1898
Sources:
Wikipedia
https://www.artnet.com/artists/julius-leblanc-stewart/
https://artvee.com/dl/the-first-spring/
Saturday, September 5, 2026
Friday, September 4, 2026
Rebecca Black - Hot Wet Delirious
Music Appreciation
Like many others from my generation, I remember Rebecca Black from her viral 2011 song “Friday,” which became an internet phenomenon—though not necessarily for reasons any 13-year-old singer would have wanted. The song was widely criticized for its simplistic lyrics and Black’s heavily processed vocals, and she endured an extraordinary amount of online ridicule.
Fast-forward 15 years, and Black, now 29, gives us something considerably more grown-up with “Hot Wet Delirious,” released July 10, 2026 ahead of her forthcoming album, Age of the Exhibitionist.
Written by Rebecca Black, Jesse Saint John and Oscar Scheller, the song finds Black embracing desire with little interest in subtlety. Inspired in part by her relationship with her girlfriend, Black has described the song as capturing that intoxicating moment when someone gets so thoroughly under your skin that self-control begins flying out the window. It is quite a journey from worrying about which seat to take on Friday morning.
Musically, “Hot Wet Delirious” is sleek, sensual electronic pop produced by Oscar Scheller and Nightfeelings, pairing a pulsing club-oriented rhythm with Black’s breathy, restrained vocal delivery. Rather than the bright adolescent pop of “Friday,” this is music intended for somewhere considerably darker and later in the evening.
The lyrics revolve around physical attraction, infatuation and the almost irrational intensity of wanting someone, fitting neatly into Age of the Exhibitionist’s broader exploration of visibility, vulnerability and the desire to be seen.
Black has said the album reflects her experience of spending much of her life on public display, but “Hot Wet Delirious” turns that idea inward, showing how being completely seen by another person can be both exhilarating and unsettling. It also demonstrates how dramatically Black has rebuilt herself as an artist: instead of running away from the notoriety of “Friday,” she has spent the intervening years developing an increasingly experimental pop identity on her own terms.
Then there is the music video, directed by Hannah De Vries and Rebecca Black, which makes the song seem almost modest by comparison. Black presides over an extravagant dinner party populated by scantily clad guests whose increasingly uninhibited behavior gives the gathering the atmosphere of a surreal, orgy-like banquet—something resembling Eyes Wide Shut after someone replaced the ominous soundtrack with sweaty club music.
The sensual imagery isn't there merely to shock: Black places herself at the center of a world built around desire, spectatorship and performance, directly reflecting the “exhibitionist” concept behind the album. Her girlfriend is represented by a queer dancer, making the visual fantasy personal rather than purely theatrical.
Sources:
Wikipedia
https://linktr.ee/rebecca.black
https://people.com/rebecca-black-age-of-the-exhibitionist-album-tour-interview-exclusive-12022714
https://music.apple.com/us/album/hot-wet-delirious-single/6780569676
https://www.imdb.com/title/tt43664241/fullcredits
Thursday, September 3, 2026
Wednesday, September 2, 2026
Saint DX - Can't Get You (Featuring Ménage à Trois)
Music Appreciation
Released on September 2, 2021, "Can't Get You" is a standout track from Unmixtape, the debut album by Canadian singer-songwriter and producer Saint DX. Featuring the French trio Ménage à Trois, the song blends smooth synth-pop, disco, and contemporary indie dance influences into a dreamy late-night groove.
Built around shimmering keyboards, a relaxed rhythm section, and soulful vocals, "Can't Get You" explores the lingering feelings that remain after a powerful romantic connection. The lyrics reflect a sense of longing and emotional obsession, with the narrator unable to move on from someone who continues to occupy their thoughts. The track's polished production and nostalgic atmosphere helped establish Saint DX as one of the more intriguing voices in modern French-pop-inspired electronic music.
The accompanying music video, directed by Hannah Rosselin, complements the song's themes of intimacy and desire. Rather than following a traditional narrative, the video presents a montage of couples sharing affectionate and sensual moments, capturing the tenderness, passion, and vulnerability that often accompany romantic relationships.
Through its warm cinematography and candid portrayals of human connection, the video reinforces the song's emotional core while celebrating physical and emotional closeness. The result is a visually elegant companion piece that enhances the reflective mood of "Can't Get You" and underscores the universal experience of being unable to forget someone who has left a lasting impression.
Sources:
https://www.discogs.com/release/20101462-Saint-DX-Unmixtape
https://saintdxmusic.com
https://becausemusic.com/artist/saint-dx
https://youtu.be/NnBVA1p_7dU?list=PLKuOvlIUzs6FE2M5aJUIYK7nqXgWuKgAl
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