Hyacinthe Rigaud

Art Appreciation 

Hyacinthe Rigaud, an esteemed French painter during the late 17th and early 18th centuries, is renowned for his remarkable portraits that flawlessly captured the essence and grandeur of his subjects.

Born on July 18, 1659, in Perpignan, France, as Jacint Rigau-Ros i Serra, later known as Hyacinthe Rigaud, he was the son of a tailor and the grandson of painter-gilders from Roussillon. Although initially trained in his father's tailoring workshop, Rigaud sharpened his artistic skills under the guidance of Antoine Ranc in Montpellier and Lyons. His exceptional talent as a painter was widely acknowledged when he won the prestigious Prix de Rome in 1682.

In 1682, Rigaud established himself in Paris, where he quickly gained prominence as a distinguished portraitist. His meticulous attention to detail and ability to capture the essence of his subjects attracted the French nobility and royalty. Rigaud's skill in infusing his portraits with grandeur and luxury secured him numerous commissions and solidified his position as the foremost painter of the French court.

Undoubtedly his most famous and monumental work is the iconic portrait titled "Louis XIV in Coronation Robes," completed in 1701. This masterpiece depicts the Sun King in all his majestic splendor, adorned with richly embroidered robes and symbolic accessories. Rigaud's meticulous attention to detail and his ability to convey the monarch's commanding presence made the portrait an immediate sensation. Not only did this painting immortalize the French monarch, but it also cemented Rigaud's reputation as the leading portraitist of his era.

In 1727, Rigaud was honored as a knight of the Order of Saint Michael. He passed away in Paris in 1743 at the age of 84.

Self-portrait with turban (1698)

Louis XIV of France (1701)

La Menasseuse (1709)

Sources:

Wikipedia

Body Art: Trina Merry - Optical Illusion Body painting

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Cosplay is an Art: Anime Expo 2023

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Gino Boccasile

Art Appreciation

Gino Boccasile was an Italian illustrator who work captured the imagination of people around the world. His work encompassed a wide range of subjects, including advertising, fashion, and propaganda.

Born on July 14, 1901, in Bari, Italy, Gino Boccasile displayed an early aptitude to design and completed studies at the fine arts school of his home town. After the death of his father, he moved to Milan, and eventually gained a post at the Mauzan-Morzenti Agency producing posters and illustrating fashion magazines. 

In his 30s, he participated in the Salon des Indépendants, art exhibition in Paris, and opened a publicity agency called ACTA, in Galleria del Corso. He illustrated for several Italian periodicals and designs book covers for publishers Mondadori and Rizzoli. A supporter of Benito Mussolini, Boccasile produced propaganda material for his government.

His involvement in propaganda during World War II propelled Boccasile into he spotlight on an international scale. His artistic skills were sought after by the Italian Fascist regime, and he became one of the leadings propagandists of the time. While controversial, Boccasile's propaganda art undeniably showcased his technical prowess and ability to convey powerful messages through visual means.

As expected, Boccasile faced scrutiny after the war for his involvement with the Fascist regime. In fact, he was imprisoned. Although acquitted, he struggled to find work. He briefly supported himself by doing pornographic sketches. 

He managed to rebuild his career by starting his own agency in Milan where he created memorable illustrations for magazines, publishers, and advertisement agencies.

Anti-American Fascist propaganda poster (1943)

Lugano Suisse Southern Switzerland Schweiz (1939)

Paris Tabou: Revue Mensuelle (1952)

Sources:

https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Gino_Boccasile

http://spartacus-educational.com/2WWboccasile.htm

https://conchigliadivenere.wordpress.com/2013/12/20/gino-boccasile-1901-1952-italian/

http://www.posterclassics.com/boccasile-posters1.html

http://www.internationalposter.com/artist-detail.aspx?id=461

http://www.callihan.com/art/vintage/gino-boccasile.html

http://www.pierangelo-boog.com/2013/05/gino-boccasile-great-italian-illustrator.html

http://galleria.thule-italia.com/tag/boccasile/?lang=en#!prettyPhoto

https://www.fondazionepirelli.org/en/activities/stories-from-world-of-pirelli/gino-boccasile-a-great-artist-for-pirelli/

https://www.germannauktionen.ch/en/items/20886-gino-boccasile

"Sex and How to Get It" by Cynthia Heimel

Literature Appreciation

While flipping through an old PLAYBOY magazine, I came across an article by columnist Cynthia Heimel. Actually, I'll be honest, the title "Sex and How to Get It" was what caught my attention. 

The American feminist and humorist writer was known as being the first to have a column in PLAYBOY that focused on women. Heimel's main focus was sexual self-confidence for women and the idea that women enjoy sex.

Born on July 13, 1947, Heimel started writing for an alternative magazine in the late 1960s called Distant Drummer. She then worked for numerous publications including Penthouse Magazine, New York Daily News, The Village Voice, Vogue, and then PLAYBOY.

In her column, "Sex and How to Get It," she shares a conversation with the Editorial Director of Playboy, where she mentions her active sex life. The editorial director suggested Cynthia write about it, but she is hesitant due to potential negative reactions from certain readers, and expresses frustration that woman's magazines, at the time, frowns upon such openness in using explicit language when discussing sex.

"I want to just casually call it fucking, but I can't bring myself to. I would have no problem using it in a women's magazine, but none of those prissy women's magazines would let me."

Cynthia digresses to describe a disappointing experience at a male strip show they attended with a friend. Although she appreciated the male performers for their physique, she found the women's reactions to be off-putting and not genuinely arousing.   

"It was the women who were hideous. Shrieking. No, more like keening. If they had been one decibel higher only a dog could have heard them, but no. It was like being at a Beatles concert in 1965, only louder. Loud enough to split my head open, maybe. But were they turned on? Nope. They were letting off steam... If a stripper touched her on any part of her body, she shied away, which is quite the paradox. Women supposedly screaming in lust were still loath to let strange men grope them." 

She adds how men who go to strip clubs sit quietly with hard-ons, different from women. She explains that men are turned-on easily without knowing who the woman is. She adds that woman, like herself, are turned on more when a man fits their interest.

"The men who go to strip clubs are pretty quiet, sitting there with hard-ons. They really are turned on. They want some lap dancing. They don't much care who the woman is, because those auxiliary sex glands in their eyes take over. Women have to know a guy."

Cynthia anticipates receiving negative letters from readers due to her use of explicit language in her column, recalling a past incident where she received verbal abuse from hostile readers after Playboy Men Columnist Asa Baber shared a fantasy. 

"Once Asa Baber wrote about how I gave him a blow job at a restaurant. I remember reading his column and getting dizzy with shock. At the end he confessed it was a fantasy, but by then it was too late. Many dumb hostile guys didn't read to the end."

Despite concerns, Cynthia reveals her strong sexual desire for her current partner, Andrew. They cherish the intense moments of passion they share, emphasizing that nothing compares to the feeling of being sexually intimate, and she hopes Andrew will be supportive and not say anything hurtful or foolish regarding her openness about their sex life.

Source: 

Wikipedia

Heimel, Cynthia. "Sex and How to Get It." PLAYBOY, vol. 43, no. 1, January 1996, p. 33.

Andrew Wyeth

Art Appreciation

Considered one of the most significant American artists of the 20th century, Andrew Wyeth is known for his realistic and expressive depiction of rural American life. 

Born on July 12, 1917, in Chadds Ford, Pennsylvania, Wyeth was the youngest of five children of illustrator and artist Newell Covers Wyeth and Carolyn Bockius Wyeth. He began drawing and was a draftsman before he could read. Andrew began painting at a young age and studied under America's popular illustrator Howard Pyle. 

Like his father, Andrew appreciated intellectuals such poet Robert Frost and writer Henry David Thoreau -- two who would have influence in his paintings. Additionally, silent-films with orchestra added to his artistic sensitivity, such as King Vidor's The Big Parade (1925). 

One of Wyeth's most famous works is Christina's World, painted in 1948. The painting features a young woman, Christina Olson, who he met through his wife, Betsey James, gazing out over a field towards a weathered farmhouse. It depicts Christina's isolation and struggle navigating the landscape, making it an iconic representation of American rural life.

Wyeth continued to paint throughout his life, often returning to the same subjects and landscapes for inspiration. His works are known for their emotional depth and evocative power, and his attention to detail and mastery of the medium have made him a celebrated figure in the world of art.

In 1963, Wyeth received the Presidential Medal of Freedom from President John F. Kennedy, the first artist to ever receive such honor. President George W. Bush honored Wyeth with the National Medal of Arts in 2007.

Christina's World (1948)

Winter Carnival (1985), Chadd Fords, Pennsylvania

Day Dream (1980)

Sources:

Wikipedia

https://www.wikiart.org/en/andrew-wyeth

https://www.theartnewspaper.com/2020/04/28/betsy-wyeth-wife-and-collaborator-to-andrew-wyeth-has-died-aged-98

https://www.theguardian.com/artanddesign/2009/jan/19/andrew-wyeth-obituary