We went to the AIC (Art Institute of Chicago) the other day and saw a nice exhibit called “Abstraction at Midcentury” where I was quite taken by this pen-and-ink drawing by the German-Venezuelan artist Gego (Gertrude Goldschmidt) from 1968. Due to her Jewish ancestry, she was forced to leave Germany in 1935 during the oppressiveContinue reading ““Lines of the Sublime””
Tag Archives: history
“Leavitt the Liar Takes Her Leave”
Richard III, Duke of Gloucester, from Shakepeare’s Henry VI, Part III (Act III, Scene 2): “Why, I can smile, and murder whiles I smile,And cry ‘Content’ to that which grieves my heart,And wet my cheeks with artificial tears,And frame my face to all occasions.I’ll drown more sailors than the mermaid shall;I’ll slay more gazers thanContinue reading ““Leavitt the Liar Takes Her Leave””
Worth repeating, early and often…
“The larger the mob, the harder the test. In small areas, before small electorates, a first-rate man occasionally fights his way through, carrying even the mob with him by force of his personality. But when the field is nationwide, and the fight must be waged chiefly at second and third hand, and the force ofContinue reading “Worth repeating, early and often…”
“Supreme Idiot”
I’ve started reading “Napoleon: A Life” by Andrew Roberts and from his introduction alone several key features of the great warrior-statesman arise. The first is that he was a voracious reader and student of history, further aided by a prodigious memory. He excelled at mathematics, geography, and philosophy, devouring the texts of Rousseau, Voltaire, Plutarch,Continue reading ““Supreme Idiot””
“The Rot Runs Slow and Deep”
Aside from the Category-5 shitnado that is Trump himself, nobody has done more damage to our body politic than Mitch McConnell. And just as Trump isn’t a real Conservative — the only thing he looks to conserve or enhance is his own wealth and power — McConnell isn’t a true institutionalist. He’s the guy whoContinue reading ““The Rot Runs Slow and Deep””
“DEMAGOGUE Records presents…”
… the complete back catalogue of the incomparable and highly consequential musical artist COVFEFE. The sound of an entire socio-political movement that broke like a category-5 tropical (septic) cyclone. No graphics required. He neither asked permission nor forgiveness. No shits were left to be given — it was all there in the music. The highsContinue reading ““DEMAGOGUE Records presents…””
“No Kings, Just Bling!”
The National Portrait Gallery, which shares space with the Smithsonian American Art Museum, is an underrated experience for visitors of Washington, DC. For starters, it’s free. Secondly, it boasts a panoply of American artworks that include paintings by Edward Hopper, Norman Rockwell, and Grandma Moses, sculptures by Frederic Remington and Augustus Saint-Gaudens, as well asContinue reading ““No Kings, Just Bling!””
“Dodgy Days at DOJ”
Our laws cannot defend themselves. It takes people of sound reason and skill and passion (delivered dispassionately) and knowledge and courage. People who make forceful and logical arguments based upon facts and historical/legal precedent who will not bow to intimidation. Again, and again, and again until whatever febrile illness (in Trump’s case a fulminant coliformContinue reading ““Dodgy Days at DOJ””
