Fake British Empire

lauriejuspeczyk:

Ivan the Terrible and his Son Ivan, 1885

Ugh, I love this painting so much.

Just some background stuff, Ivan the Terrible was the Tsar of Russia for most of the 16th Century. In I think 1581, he caught his daughter-in-law wearing ‘immodest clothing in front of everyone’ and struck her. She was apparently pregnant and she may or may not have had a miscarriage because of it.

Ivan’s son and the girl’s husband, also named Ivan after his father, hears about it and gets into a really heated argument with his father that ends with Ivan the Terrible taking a swing at his son with his pointed staff. It’s said that he immediately fell down and kissed his son’s face, pressing his hands against his left temple to try to stop the bleeding. He famously screamed “May I be damned! I’ve killed my son! I’ve killed my son!” His son briefly regained consciousness and his last words were “I die as a devoted son and most humble servant.”

I love all the details. I love the pointed staff lying on the ground and the signs of a fight with the tossed over chair, disturbed carpet, and the door wide open. I love the single tear on Ivan’s face and their position on the floor. This is a really gorgeous but raw depiction of one of the darkest moments in an incredible man’s life. I wish there were more historical paintings like this.

(via warningdontreadthis)

supersonicelectronic:

Victo Ngai.

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(via aatropos)

englishpearl:

A set of photographic images using the product Betty Hair Dye – a dye specifically designed to be safe for pubic hair. The artist discovered this product in 2009, originally developed in Europe for women who wanted to match their pubic hair to the hair on their heads. The colors are traditional blonde and brunette but are also hot pink, red, blue, purple and green. She writes: “I started asking a lot of questions: What was this practice about? The commercialization of the female? Consumerism? Color? Challenging the male gaze, or partaking in female objectification? How are these products appealing? Is this sexy? What do these products say about sex culture and beauty now?”

(via Dye by Ali Kheradyar | Sweet ♥ Station)