Thursday, June 16, 2022

Beers & Books CCXXV – Giovanni Boccaccio

Giovanni Boccaccio wondered in the middle of the 14th century "that women were so little regarded" and in response wrote a collection of witty portraits of strong-willed, influential, sometimes dangerous women.

Until his death in 1375, Boccaccio repeatedly revised his work "De mulieribus claris", a collection of over 100 portraits of famous women. Charmingly and with witty wit, he presents strong women such as Minerva, the goddess of wisdom, the prophetess Carmenta, the painter Thamaris, the orator Hortensia and Proba, the poetess. They are not always virtuous, certainly not saintly, but what they all have in common is that they prevailed in the world of men through their bravery, powers of the mind and perseverance - and so these impressive stories are still of great relevance today. For this edition, the most beautiful texts have been selected and newly translated and illustrated with the woodcuts of the first German edition (1473).   

"While farmers
generally allow one rooster for ten hens,
ten men are scarcely sufficient
to service one woman."

Giovanni Boccaccio (16 June 1313 – 21 December 1375)


Saturday, June 11, 2022

Sunday, May 29, 2022

Busy days for Mr Blackbird

 

Busy days for Mr Blackbird
with three kids demanding to be fed.
My pleasure to support him with suppling food.


Tuesday, May 24, 2022

Hunger for life

Sometimes ...
 
there is no need for words ...


Sunday, May 22, 2022

Beers & Books CCXXI – Heinrich Mann

Der Untertan

"My father, after all, was a nationalist."
*
The youth of King Henri Quatre
&
The completion of  King Henri Quatre

"The Bourbon King (i.e. Henry Quatre)
was first ambassador of reason and human happiness."
*

Heinrich Mann (27 March 1871 – 11 March 1950)

Saturday, May 21, 2022

Beers & Books CCXX – Gabriele Wohmann

"There's also a satisfaction
that takes place in the mind: thinking."

Gabriele Wohmann (21 May 1932 – 22 June 2015)

Monday, May 16, 2022

Beers & Books CCXVIII – Studs Terkel

We are living in the United States of Alzheimer's.
A whole country has lost its memory.
When it can't remember yesterday,
a country forgets what it once wanted to be.

Louis "Studs" Terkel
(May 16, 1912 – October 31, 2008)

Thursday, May 12, 2022

Laughing Lhursday* – Salvatore Dalí



Salvador Dalí (11 May 1904 – 23 January 1989)


* [For first time visitors]: Typo in the title? Nah. It's just that
I would not let a tiny T spoil an avantgardistic alliteration.