by Joost Swarte
Wednesday, August 13, 2025
Tuesday, August 12, 2025
Ernestine von Kirchsberg
Art Appreciation
Ernestine von Kirchsberg was born on August 12, 1857, in Verona, the part of the Austrian Empire, and passed away on October 8, 1924, in Graz. She began formal artistic training in Graz in 1873 at the Landschaftliche Zeichenakademie under Hermann von Königsbrunn and advanced her studies at the Academy of Fine Arts in Vienna. There, she was taught by prominent figures including Eduard Peithner von Lichtenfels, August Schäffer, and notably Hugo Darnaut, whose influence steered her toward the atmospheric “Stimmungsimpressionismus” style.
Her career saw early public exposure, exhibiting at Vienna's Künstlerhaus soon after her studies. She later joined the group of "Acht Künstlerinnen," showcasing alongside peers like Marie Egner in early 1900s Vienna. In 1893, she was honored with a prize at the World's Columbian Exposition in Chicago. Von Kirchsberg made frequent painting expeditions across the Adriatic region, Styria, Carniola, and South Tyrol, and exhibited work in major cultural centers including Vienna, Munich, Berlin, Prague, and Graz.
Among her notable works are evocative landscapes rendered in both oil and watercolor, including "Waldbach im Sonnenschein," "Sommertag," and "Idyll," which capture tranquil rural scenes with atmospheric depth. Other recognized paintings are “Rast am Wegesrand,” “Dorfkirche,” and “Am Mühlwehr,” the latter featuring a mill weir and noted in a Dorotheum auction catalogue.
Sommertag
Idyll
Waldbach im Sonnenschein
Suburban Villa with Garden
A Mountain Stream with a White Rock, 1885
Sources:
Wikipedia
https://artvee.com/dl/waldbach-im-sonnenschein/
https://www.dorotheum.com/en/l/8674477/
https://www.askart.com/artist/Ernestine_Von_Kirchsberg/11248124/Ernestine_Von_Kirchsberg.aspx
Monday, August 11, 2025
Julie Ann Clarke
Model Appreciation
Back in my teenage years, there was this unforgettable photo of Julie Clarke on rollerblades that stuck with me. She’s crouched down, pink cap pulled low, light green fitness gloves on, two watches stacked on her right wrist — like time itself couldn’t keep up with her. She looked like a rollerblading Barbie straight out of my imagination.
Julie Anne Clarke was born in Tucson, Arizona, on August 11, 1969, but grew up soaking in the sunshine of St. Simons Island, Georgia. From an early age, she showed serious skill as an equestrienne, riding with the kind of grace most people can only manage in slow motion.
At 18, she snagged a win in a swimwear pageant, then took first runner-up at the National Finals for the Venus Swimwear Model Search in Clearwater, Florida. That’s where a photographer spotted her and thought, Yep, she’s got “Playmate” written all over her. Julie later laughed in her Playboy write-up, “If I ever had a chance to be a Playmate, you wouldn’t have to ask me twice.”
Playboy crowned her Miss March 1991, then put her on the April cover for good measure. Her natural charm and bright smile opened doors to TV spots, commercials, and even a ’90s comedy flick.
On her Playmate data sheet, the 5'5" brunette dreamed of graduating college, visiting Australia, breathing fresh air, basking in the sunshine, and hanging out with animals — plus, she had a soft spot for men with “cute buns” (the non-hair kind).
She admired actress Tawny Kitaen, President George H.W. Bush, and pictured her ideal guy as a mix of strength and sensitivity, with a good sense of humor… and magic hands for massages.
Sources:
PLAYBOY, March 1991
tour.playboyplus.com/
www.imdb.com/name/nm0164836/
ogglebooble.com
vintageplayboymags.co.uk/
www.julie-clarke.com/
babepedia.com/babe/Julie_Clarke
Sunday, August 10, 2025
Saturday, August 9, 2025
Friday, August 8, 2025
Thursday, August 7, 2025
KALEO - Way Down We Go
Music Appreciation
"Way Down We Go" has resonated far beyond the confines of KALEO's albums -- its haunting tones have been featured in numerous movies, TV shows, commercials, and even video games. Written by Jökull Júlíusson (JJ Julius Son), KALEO's lead vocalist and guitarist, the track was released on August 7, 2015, as the second single from their album A/B. Its rich presence across media -- from shows like Grey's Anatomy and Lucifer to film trailers for Logan and video games such as FIFA 16 -- has helped it achieve multi-platinum status in multiple countries.
Musically, "Way Down We Go" merges soulful blues-rock with a slow-burn build that mirrors the intensity of its meaning. The lyrical core -- "Oh Father, tell me, do we get what we deserve?" -- uses biblical imagery to dive into themes of sin, guilt, consequence, and introspection. JJ's vocal delivery grows more powerful with each repetition, supported by a bluesy guitar solo that perfectly aligns with the mood -- intimate yet escalating in intensity. The musical arrangement's steady beat and rising tension reflect the very act of "falling" emotionally or spiritually, with the repeated chorus echoing that inevitable descent.
The official music video, directed by Shaun Silva in 2016, begins with JJ at the piano -- alone and brooding -- before shifting to cuts of the full band performing on stage. Silva employs dramatic film coloration and lighting to evoke both warmth and shadow, blending sepia and cool tones across shots. This interplay underscores the emotional highs and lows of the song: raw intimacy at the piano, collective release with the band, and then back to solitary reflection as the video closes on JJ at the keys.
Sources:
Wikipedia
https://www.gigwise.com/way-down-we-go-lyrics-meaning-by-kaleo
https://andjusticeforreviews.wordpress.com/2017/02/20/way-down-we-go-by-kaleo-song-review
https://www.imdb.com/title/tt7278154/fullcredits/
https://www.reddit.com/r/KaleoOfficial/comments/gupmri/song_of_the_week_1_way_down_we_go
https://www.imdb.com/title/tt7278154/
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