Category Archives: History

Memorial Library

Posted on June 15, 2014 by Brian D. Butler

Standing incongruously amidst the graves and memorials of the Jüdischer Friedhof Krems are three wooden bookcases. This library was created ten years ago by artists Martin Guttmann and Michael Clegg as a memorial to the destroyed Jewish community of Krems, … Continue reading →

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An American Odyssey

Posted on May 31, 2014 by Brian D. Butler

These rediscovered Photochrom and Photostint postcard images were produced by the Detroit  Photographic Company between 1888 and 1924. Using a photolithographic process they offered peoplethe very first color photographs of The United States. For the first time, America’s colors were … Continue reading →

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Take the A Train

Posted on May 21, 2014 by Brian D. Butler

I’ve ridden the New York City subway system since infancy, sadly I never paid much attention to the intricate tiling, murals and typography throughout many of the stations. However, New York-based designer Adam Chang has opened my eyes to the … Continue reading →

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Discovering Literature

Posted on May 20, 2014 by Brian D. Butler

Last week the British Library launched Discovering Literature, an online treasury of more than 1,200 items from the Romantic and Victorian periods, including first editions, manuscripts and rare illustrations. A wealth of contextual material – newspapers, photographs, advertisements and maps … Continue reading →

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Friet, Frite or Fries It’s Friday

Posted on May 9, 2014 by Brian D. Butler

With its breathtaking Gothic city center, stunning Begijnhof, awe-inspiring medieval churches, wonderful museums and magnificent Belgian beer, Bruges has more than enough tourist magnetism to draw massive crowds. But to top it all off there’s the Friet Museum (Musée de … Continue reading →

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Time Travel London

Posted on May 3, 2014 by Brian D. Butler

The terrific video (see below) titled “Wonderful London 1924 & 2014” offers a unique opportunity to time travel between 1924 and 2014. The video was produced and directed by Simon Smith after he stumbled upon a series of short documentary … Continue reading →

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Paris 1900 – 2014

Posted on April 1, 2014 by Brian D. Butler

The clever folk at the website Golem 13 have created a marvelous set of photomontages that marry images from vintage Paris postcards with the same contemporary scenes photographed last month. You can see the complete series of images here. all … Continue reading →

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No papers, No problem

Posted on March 28, 2014 by Brian D. Butler

Düsseldorf-based, Polish-born photographer Josef Schultz traveled throughout Europe for years documenting abandoned passport control points, border posts and military check points. In his resulting series “Übergang”, Schultz digitally manipulated the landscape by removing commercial signage and by subtly blurring the … Continue reading →

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Do You Miss The Clickety Clack

Posted on March 13, 2014 by Brian D. Butler

I never thought that I’d pine for the clickety-clack of my ancient Smith Corona or the satisfying feel of the carriage return, but this wonderful poster from the folks at Pop Chart Lab has me all sentimental. The chart, called … Continue reading →

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12 Years a Slave

Posted on March 8, 2014 by Brian D. Butler

Earlier this week, 12 Years a Slave was named Best Picture of the Year by the Academy Awards. The film also won the Oscar for the best adapted screenplay. If you were moved by Solomon Northrop’s heartbreaking story, you can … Continue reading →

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