Category Archives: Europe

Watching Operation Night Watch

Posted on July 13, 2019 by Brian D. Butler

Rembrandt’s famous painting The Night Watch at Amsterdam’s Rijksmuseum is not my favorite work from the master, or my favorite painting in the great institution. However, every time that I’m in Amsterdam somehow I find myself in front of the iconic work … Continue reading →

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This Is The End(papers)

Posted on July 12, 2019 by Brian D. Butler

Those of us who are true book geeks suffer from an obsessive fascination with all aspects of books. We don’t just like reading books, or collecting books, we love the physicality of books. Some of us are into book covers. … Continue reading →

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Literary Houses

Posted on July 10, 2019 by Brian D. Butler

I have been a huge fan of British artist Su Blackwell’s  work for many years. Many of her projects involve recycling books into works of art. I recently stumbled across a wonderful older project of her’s called “Literary Houses.” Blackwell … Continue reading →

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The Original Swiss Trip

Posted on July 5, 2019 by Brian D. Butler

Brooklyn-based comic artist Brian Blomerth has released his debut graphic novel titled Bicycle Day. The technicolor confection recounts the infamous day in April 1943 when Swiss chemist Albert Hoffmann dropped the first dose of LSD. After injesting 250 micrograms of lysergic acid … Continue reading →

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It’s A Big World After All

Posted on July 4, 2019 by Brian D. Butler

In 1587, Italian cartographer Urbano Monte created the largest known map of Earth. His map consists of 60 panels that were designed to be assembled into a single planisphere —a circular map that rotates about a central axis— measuring 10 … Continue reading →

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Whence Italics

Posted on June 27, 2019 by Brian D. Butler

These two books were printed at the historic Aldine Press in Venice. Founded by Aldus Manutius in 1495, it was among the most prominent and successful printing houses of the time. These works date from the early 1500s and feature … Continue reading →

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So much to read

Posted on June 23, 2019 by Brian D. Butler

Les Cousins 1959, director Claude Chabrol  

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See Naples and sleep with the books

Posted on June 20, 2019 by Brian D. Butler

The Mondadori Bookstore in Naples’ Vomero District has made it possible to spend the night surrounded by thousands of books. Under the name Mooks Bed & Books, the bookshop has installed two beautiful suites, each furnished with antiques and thousands of books … Continue reading →

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Little Free Bogskab

Posted on June 16, 2019 by Brian D. Butler

Leave to the Danes to create a wonderful little free library and situated it on the waterfront in a popular public park. The Bryggens Bogskab (bogskab means book case) is the brainchild of two book -loving residents of the Islands … Continue reading →

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Never Underestimate The Hanseatic League

Posted on June 14, 2019 by Brian D. Butler

This recently discovered map of London from 1572 was created by the engraver Frans Hogenburg. Commissioned by the free-wheeling capitalists of the Hanseatic League,it provides a fascinating aerial view of the rapidly growing capital city. It shows that there was … Continue reading →

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