otd

2y

#OtD 7 Sep 1934 anti-fascists hung a banner atop the BBC, advertising a counter-rally against Oswald Mosley and his British Union of Fascists. The BBC had Mosley on to promote his Nazi views and rally. Even so, over 100,000 locals drove out the fascist https://stories.workingclasshistory.com/article/10756/bbc-anti-fascist-banner-drop?utm_source=dlvr.it&utm_medium=mastodon

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1y

American poet and playwright Georgia Douglas Johnson was born #OTD in 1880.

Her first collection of poetry, "The Heart of a Woman" (1918), was one of the earliest books of poetry published by a Black woman in the United States. Her second volume, "Bronze" (1922), focuses more explicitly on racial issues, delving into the experiences of Black Americans and the injustices they faced in society.

https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Georgia_Douglas_Johnson

#books #literature #poetry #theatre

In the portrait, Georgia Douglas Johnson is depicted as a poised and elegant woman, likely in her middle years during the height of her literary career. Her facial features are soft yet defined, with a composed and thoughtful expression. She might have short, wavy hair styled in a way that reflects the fashion of the early 20th century, which adds to her sense of modernity and sophistication.

Johnson would likely be dressed in a formal, yet stylish outfit, reflecting both her literary status and her role as a leading cultural figure. A brooch or simple piece of jewelry might also be present, adding a touch of personal style.

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2y

Spanish writer Francisco Gómez de Quevedo y Villegas died #OTD in 1645.

Along with his lifelong rival, Luis de Góngora, Quevedo was one of the most prominent Spanish poets of the age. His style is characterized by what was called conceptismo. This style existed in stark contrast to Góngora's culteranismo.

https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Francisco_de_Quevedo

Books by Francisco de Quevedo at PG:
https://www.gutenberg.org/ebooks/author/35792

#books #literature #poetry

Portrait of celebrated Spanish poet and writer, Francisco de Quevedo, attributed to Juan van der Hamen, 17th century (Instituto Valencia de Don Juan).

In the portrait, Francisco de Quevedo is depicted as a middle-aged man with a serious, contemplative expression. His distinctive facial features include a long, narrow face, a prominent mustache, and a goatee. One of the most notable details is the presence of Quevedo’s signature pince-nez glasses, which rest on his nose. These round spectacles are closely associated with Quevedo and emphasize his scholarly image.

Quevedo is dressed in the formal attire typical of a Spanish nobleman and intellectual of the 17th century. He wears a dark, austere robe, which contrasts with the lighter tones of his skin and the dark background.

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2y

"Strengthen the female mind by enlarging it, and there will be an end to blind obedience."
A Vindication of the Rights of Woman (ed. 1793)

British writer, philosopher, and advocate of women's rights Mary Wollstonecraft was born #OTD in 1759. In "A Vindication of the Rights of Woman" (1792), Wollstonecraft argued that women are not naturally inferior to men but appear so only because of a lack of education.

Books by Mary Wollstonecraft at PG:
https://www.gutenberg.org/ebooks/author/84

#books #literature

A classic oil painting depicts Mary Wollstonecraft wearing a white v-neck gown with a soft, flowing texture. The attire seems to be of a delicate fabric that drapes elegantly around the figure's arms and chest. The background is predominantly dark, contrasting with the bright white of the gown. The figure's hair appears to be styled up and away from the face, with hints of brown tones, which suggests a sense of sophistication and poise.

An old, worn book opened to the title page which reads "A VINDICATION OF THE RIGHTS OF WOMAN: WITH STRICTURES ON POLITICAL AND MORAL SUBJECTS. BY MARY WOLLSTONECRAFT. PRINTED AT BOSTON, BY PETER EDES FOR THOMAS AND ANDREWS, FAUST'S STATE, NO. 45, NEWBURY-STREET, MDCCXCIX." The text is in black capital letters centered on the page with a decorative monogram between the author's name and the printer information.

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1y

Italian ornithologist and botanist Ulisse Aldrovandi was born #OTD in 1522.

He was the moving force behind Bologna's botanical garden. His most important work is a series of volumes on natural history, collectively known as "Historia Naturalis". These encyclopedic texts covered a wide range of topics, from birds and insects to minerals and plants.

https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Ulisse_Aldrovandi

#naturalhistory #scientificillustrators

lisse Aldrovandi (1522 – 1605). Oil-painting on canvas, attributed to Agostino Carracci.

Aldrovandi is shown as an elderly man, likely in his late 70s or 80s, with a weathered yet thoughtful expression. His face bears the signs of age, with deep lines and a slightly furrowed brow, indicative of a lifetime spent in study and contemplation. His eyes, though aged, retain a sharpness and focus, suggesting a mind still actively engaged in intellectual pursuits. His white or gray beard, trimmed and neatly styled, frames his face, emphasizing his scholarly appearance.

Aldrovandi is dressed in formal, academic attire, likely a dark, heavy robe or cloak, befitting his status as a professor and scientist. The garment may have subtle decorative elements, such as a white collar or cuffs, but the overall tone is somber and modest, aligning with his role as a man of knowledge.

In the painting, Aldrovandi is seated or standing in a composed and dignified posture, symbolizing his role as a teacher and observer of the natural world.

Ornithologiae, hoc est de avibus historiae libri XII. (De avibus), Bologna, 1599.
Ulysse Aldrovandi - Aldrovandi, Ulisse (1599) Ornithologiae [Tome 1]. apud Franciscum de Franciscis.
Ulysse Aldrovandi's cover page of Ornithologiae

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1y

English novelist, poet, playwright, and critic D. H. Lawrence was born #OTD in 1885.

Four of his most famous novels — Sons and Lovers, The Rainbow, Women in Love , and Lady Chatterley's Lover— were the subject of censorship trials for their radical portrayals of sexuality and use of explicit language.

https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/D._H._Lawrence

Books by D.H. Lawrence at PG:
https://www.gutenberg.org/ebooks/author/123

#books #literature #literarycriticism

Passport photograph of the British author D. H. Lawrence, enclosed in a letter to Bernard Falk (1882–1960), dated 24 February 1929.

D. H. Lawrence is shown from the shoulders up, in a close-up portrait. He is likely around 43 years old, with his signature short, dark hair and a neatly trimmed beard, both streaked with hints of gray, which give him a distinguished, slightly rugged appearance. His face is thin, with sharp, angular features, reflecting both the toll of his health struggles and his intellectual vigor. His expression is serious, with an intense, focused gaze typical of someone deeply reflective.

Lawrence is dressed in a formal jacket, possibly a dark suit or coat, as would be expected in a passport photo of the period. The collar of his shirt is visible, neatly folded under his jacket, though the tie, if present, would be partially obscured by the frame.

As this is a passport photo, Lawrence is seated facing directly toward the camera, in a straightforward and neutral position. The image is cropped closely around his face and upper torso, in line with the typical format for official identification photos. His posture is upright, and his head is held high, reflecting a sense of formality and self-possession.

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294d

#OTD In 1858, Swedish writer Selma Lagerlöf was born.

"She published her first novel, Gösta Berling's Saga, at the age of 33. She was the first woman to win the Nobel Prize in Literature, which she was awarded in 1909. In 1914, she was the first woman to be granted a membership of the Swedish Academy"

https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Selma_Lagerl%C3%B6f

Books by Lagerlöf at PG:

https://www.gutenberg.org/ebooks/author/1717

#books #literature

Photograph of Selma Lagerlöf.

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1y

#OtD 11 Sep 1973 right-wing general Pinochet launched a coup against the elected left-wing government in Chile of Salvador Allende. Backed by the US and UK, Pinochet went on to torture, jail and kill 10,000s of working class activists https://stories.workingclasshistory.com/article/8360/general-pinochet's-coup-against-the-left-wing-government-in-chile?utm_source=dlvr.it&utm_medium=mastodon

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247d

Playwright & artist John Byrne (1940–2023) was born #OTD, 6 Jan. An extraordinary talent, best known for the SLAB BOYS trilogy & TUTTI FRUTTI & YOUR CHEATIN’ HEART, he also designed album covers for Gerry Rafferty & the set for THE CHEVIOT, THE STAG & THE BLACK BLACK OIL

A 🎂🧵

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#Scottish #literature #art #playwright #screenwriter #albumart #artist #painter #JohnByrne

“The Riddie”, by John Byrne, 2018, ink & watercolour on board.

A stylised head-and-shoudlers self-portrait of the artist. A long forelock of grey hair dangles down from his forehead as he looks askance out of the painting. His eyes are large and expressive, his nose triangular and enormous. His mouth is hidden behind a bristling white moustache and beard, and an unlit cigarette pokes out from between them.

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1y

#OTD in 1933.

Hungarian-American physicist Leo Szilard conceived of the idea of the nuclear chain reaction while waiting for a traffic light in Bloomsbury, London. He patented the idea in 1936.

https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Leo_Szilard

https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Nuclear_chain_reaction

#science #physics

Physicist Léo Szilárd. Probably circa 1960. DOE Digital Archive Image 2017774. "Credit: DOE Photo"

This image is a work of a United States Department of Energy (or predecessor organization) employee, taken or made as part of that person's official duties. As a work of the U.S. federal government, the image is in the public domain.

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1y

Argentinian mathematician and biochemist Dorothy Maud Wrinch was born #OTD in 1894.

Wrinch is most famous for her controversial cyclol hypothesis (1936). She proposed that proteins were made of interlinked, cyclic structures based on geometric principles. Her cyclol hypothesis faced intense criticism from prominent biochemists, particularly Linus Pauling, who later developed the correct model of protein secondary structure.

https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Dorothy_Maud_Wrinch

#mathematics #biochemistry #womeninSTEM

Miss [Dorothy] Wrinch, docteur ès sciences [de l'université de Londres] : [photographie de presse] / [Agence Rol]
Agence Rol - This file comes from Gallica Digital Library and is available under the digital ID btv1b53062829n

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1y

German mathematician Ferdinand Georg Frobenius was born #OTD in 1849.

He made significant contributions to various fields, including linear algebra, group theory, and number theory. His work has had a lasting impact on mathematics, especially in areas such as matrix theory and representation theory.

https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Ferdinand_Georg_Frobenius

William Pape - Untitled (Portrait study of Georg Frobenius). Study for the lost painting “Letzte Sitzung der Preußischen Akademie der Wissenschaften im alten Haus” - BG-M 12015-12 - Berlinische Galerie

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1y

Scottish chemist and physicist James Dewar was born #OTD in 1842.

He is best known for his invention of the vacuum flask, which he used in conjunction with research into the liquefaction of gases. He also studied atomic and molecular spectroscopy, working in these fields for more than 25 years. Dewar was nominated for the Nobel Prize 8 times — 5 times in Physics and 3 times in Chemistry — but he never succeeded in winning it.

https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/James_Dewar

#science #chemistry #physics

James Dewar in the Royal Institution in London, around 1900.

Dewar’s expression in such photographs is usually one of deep concentration or mild seriousness, reflecting his dedication to scientific inquiry.

He is often dressed in formal attire, wearing a dark suit or frock coat typical of the period, which adds to the impression of professionalism and authority.

Dewar's hair in these photographs is generally short and well-kept, with a full mustache, which was typical of men in the late Victorian and early Edwardian periods.

Dewar is standing with a hand holding a dewar.

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1y

Finnish violinist and composer Jean Sibelius died #OTD in 1957.

The core of his oeuvre is his set of seven symphonies, which, like his other major works, are regularly performed and recorded in Finland and countries around the world. His other best-known compositions are Finlandia, the Karelia Suite, Valse triste, the Violin Concerto, the choral symphony Kullervo, and The Swan of Tuonela (from the Lemminkäinen Suite).

Books about Sibelius at PG:
https://www.gutenberg.org/ebooks/19557

#books #art #music

Composer Jean Sibelius.

fi:Daniel Nyblin (1856–1923) - What We Hear in Music, Anne S. Faulkner, Victor Talking Machine Co., 1913.

The portrait of composer Jean Sibelius by Daniel Nyblin (1856–1923) is a classic black-and-white photograph of the Finnish composer, which was widely reproduced in the early 20th century, including in What We Hear in Music by Anne S. Faulkner (published by the Victor Talking Machine Co. in 1913).

The portrait shows Jean Sibelius, one of Finland's most famous composers, seated or standing in a formal pose. He is dressed in a dark, elegant suit typical of the time, with a high-collared shirt and tie. Sibelius, known for his intense and serious demeanor, is captured with a stern or thoughtful expression, reflecting his deep, contemplative nature. His facial features—strong jawline, neatly combed hair, and thick mustache—are sharply defined in the photograph, emphasizing his intellectual and artistic persona.

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1y

"What we chang'd
Was innocence for innocence; we knew not
The doctrine of ill-doing, nor dream'd
That any did."
Polixenes, scene ii

#OTD in 1912.

Harley Granville-Barker's production of Shakespeare's The Winter's Tale opens at the Savoy Theatre, London, with simplified scenery, ensemble acting and naturalistic verse-speaking. It is replaced in November by his production of Twelfth Night.

https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/The_Winter%27s_Tale

Winter's Tale at PG:
https://gutenberg.org/ebooks/1539

#books #literature #theatre

An illustration by John Opie, engraved by Jean Pierre Simon, for Act II, Scene III of Shakespeare's [The] Winter's Tale LEONTES: [To ANTIGONUS.] You, sir, come you hither: You that have been so tenderly officious With Lady Margery, your midwife, there, To save this bastard's life,—for 'tis a bastard, So sure as this beard's grey,—what will you adventure To save this brat's life? ANTIGONUS. Anything, my lord, That my ability may undergo, And nobleness impose: at least, thus much; I'll pawn the little blood which I have left To save the innocent:—anything possible. LEONTES. It shall be possible. Swear by this sword Thou wilt perform my bidding. ANTIGONUS. I will, my lord. LEONTES. Mark, and perform it; (seest thou?) for the fail Of any point in't shall not only be Death to thyself, but to thy lewd-tongu'd wife; Whom for this time, we pardon.

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1y

"Every man takes the limits of his own field of vision for the limits of the world."
Psychological Observations

German philosopher and author Arthur Schopenhauer died #OTD in 1860.

He is known for his 1818 work The World as Will and Representation (expanded in 1844), which characterizes the phenomenal world as the manifestation of a blind and irrational noumenal will.

https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Arthur_Schopenhauer

Books by Arthur Schopenhauer at PG:
https://www.gutenberg.org/ebooks/author/3648

#books #literature

Portrait photograph of Arthur Schopenhauer
Schäfer, Johann - Frankfurt am Main University Library

Schopenhauer is dressed in formal, dark attire, typical of the mid-19th century, with a high-collared shirt, waistcoat, and a coat. His white, unruly hair, swept back from his forehead, stands out, framing his lined, weathered face. His facial features are sharp, with a prominent nose and deeply set eyes that gaze outward with intensity, conveying his serious and contemplative nature.

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1y

Austrian psychologist Susanna Rubinstein was born #OTD in 1847.

She went on to study psychology & German literature at the University of Prague, in the spring of 1870 & then at Leipzig University 3 years later. After being denied admission to the doctoral program in Basel, Switzerland, she enrolled at the University of Bern and there gained her Ph.D. in 1874 in psychology and German literature. She became then the first woman to receive a doctorate in Bern.

https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Susanna_Rubinstein

Porträt Susanna Runinstein
Unknown author - Ilustrirte Zeitung 2061 vom 30. Dezember 1882, S. 614.

While the author of the portrait is unknown, its style and format reflect the common illustrative techniques of the time, focusing on fine, detailed lines and shading. The subject, Susanna Runinstein, is portrayed in a formal, somewhat classical pose, typical of 19th-century portraiture. She likely wears period-appropriate attire, with intricate clothing details, possibly a dress with lace or embroidery, as these elements were often emphasized to showcase craftsmanship and status.

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270d

Finally, I’m done with the phone calls and everything else
and when I switch on the radio it feels like lying in salt water –
all I need to do is breathe: Bach will keep me afloat…

—Elizabeth Burns (1957–2015) was born #OTD, 14 December

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https://www.wayleavepress.co.uk/?page_id=898

#Scottish #literature #poem #poetry #womenwriters #music #classicalmusic #Bach

Listening to Bach’s B Minor Mass in the kitchen
by Elizabeth Burns

Finally, I’m done with the phone calls and everything else
and when I switch on the radio it feels like lying in salt water –
all I need to do is breathe: Bach will keep me afloat.
I’m mixing yeast into flour, making rolls for my daughter’s
birthday breakfast in the morning, kneading and kneading
the dough then setting it to rise; arranging in a glass
the last of the tiny pink roses with a sprig of green,
finding the blue candles and ironing the tablecloth,
the one my granny embroidered, sweeping the floor,
thinking about the hot August night of the birth,
and about the people we met on Westray last week,
and the presents I still need to wrap, and Bach himself
who is like a mountain covered in wildflowers,
and the singers in the Albert Hall who, the conductor says,
get close to godliness through this performance;
and I’m wondering, as all those voices fill my kitchen
with the Mass, if this is what he means: the sense
of time and place dissolving, so what divides us
from the past and elsewhere, and from each other,
falls away, and everything’s connected and we are all
drops of water in this enormous breaking wave.

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291d

The City is of Night; perchance of Death…

James “B.V.” Thomson (1834–1882) – poet, journalist, translator, anarchist, atheist – was born #OTD, 23 Nov, in Port Glasgow. Best known for his long poem THE CITY OF DREADFUL NIGHT, he influenced TS Eliot & is seen as a progenitor of Modernism

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https://psychogeographicreview.com/the-city-of-dreadful-night/

#Scottish #literature #poem #poetry #Victorian #19thcentury #modernism #TSEliot

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1y

#OTD in 1872.

Romanian poet Mihai Eminescu first attends the literary club Junimea of Iași and reads out his fantasy story Poor Dionis.

As recorded by the society's official diary, Junimist doyens Titu Maiorescu and Vasile Pogor both noted that "the ending and the resolution do not match into the whole structure". They eventually agreed to serialize Poor Dionis in the club's magazine, Convorbiri Literare, where the first episode appeared on December 1, 1872.

https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Poor_Dionis

Convorbiri Literare of December 1, 1872, featuring the first installment of Poor Dionis.

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1y

#OTD in 1906.

The Santos-Dumont 14-bis makes a short hop, the first flight of a fixed-wing aircraft in Europe. It was the first flight to be publicly witnessed by a crowd and also filmed.

It was also the first powered flight by a non-Wright Brothers airplane aside from short powered "hops" by Clément Ader and Traian Vuia.

https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Santos-Dumont_14-bis

#technology #aviation

$Alberto Santos Dumont's 14-bis with the Blériot IV in the background. [Jules Beau Collection. Sports photography]: T. 33. Years 1906 and 1907 / Jules Beau: F. 15 [Les étapes de l\ aviation. Santos-Dumont's new triumph.$

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1y

#OTD in 1857.

Eugène Sue's extended fiction Les Mystères du peuple is condemned on charges of offending morals and religion, the author having died on August 3.

According to Umberto Eco, parts of Sue's book Les Mystères du peuple served as a source for Maurice Joly in his 1864 work Dialogue in Hell Between Machiavelli and Montesquieu, a book attacking Napoleon III and his political ambitions.

https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Eug%C3%A8ne_Sue

https://www.gutenberg.org/ebooks/author/1186

#books #literature

Advertisement for "Mysteries of the People" by Eugène Sue. The New Review magazine, April 1915 (p. 245).

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1y

Polish poet, dramatist, painter, sculptor, and philosopher Cyprian Norwid was born #OTD in 1821.

Considered a "rising star" in his youth, Norwid's original, nonconformist style was not appreciated in his lifetime. Partly due to this, he was excluded from high society. His work was rediscovered and appreciated only after his death by the Young Poland movement of the late-nineteenth and early-twentieth centuries.

https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Cyprian_Norwid#

#books #literature #poetry

Portrait of Cyprian Kamil Norwid in 1871.

Norwid is shown with a serious, contemplative expression. His eyes often seem deep-set and thoughtful, conveying his intellectual depth and the hardships he endured. The expression also reflects his status as a misunderstood and underappreciated figure during his lifetime.

Norwid is seen wearing formal, yet modest clothing, which aligns with his austere lifestyle. His hair and beard, slightly disheveled, contribute to his image as a Romantic artist.

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1y

"If the fifteenth century discovered America to the Old World, the nineteenth is discovering woman to herself."
"Woman's Political Future" Speech

American writer Frances Ellen Watkins Harper was born #OTD in 1825.

She was an abolitionist, suffragist, poet, teacher, public speaker, and writer, one of the first African American women to be published in the United States.

https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Frances_Ellen_Watkins_Harper

Books by Frances Ellen Watkins Harper at PG:
https://www.gutenberg.org/ebooks/author/345

#books #literature #poetry

Portrait of Frances Ellen Watkins Harper.

In: Women of distinction : remarkable in works and invincible in character
Year: 1893
https://archive.org/details/womenofdistincti00scru/page/n40/mode/1up?view=theater

Harper is dressed in modest, formal clothing, typical of the period. Her attire reflects her professional status and her role as a speaker and activist. She is shown in a high-necked dress with simple accessories, emphasizing her seriousness and professionalism.

Harper is often portrayed with a straight, upright posture, which adds to her aura of authority and poise.

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1y

English physicist and chemist Michael Faraday was born #OTD in 1791.

Faraday discovered that a changing magnetic field could induce an electric current in a wire, laying the foundation for the concept of the electromagnetic field. He formulated the fundamental laws of electrolysis; he was the inventor of the Faraday cage and he discovered the Faraday effect.

https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Michael_Faraday

Books about or by Michael Faraday at PG:
https://www.gutenberg.org/ebooks/search/?query=Michael+Faraday&submit_search=Search

#books #science #physics #chemistry

Faraday holding a type of glass bar he used in 1845 to show magnetism affects light in dielectric material.

Michael Faraday. Photographed in the 1850s by Maull and Polyblank as part of their 'Living Celebrities' series. The Faraday volume was published in October 1857.

In this photograph, Faraday is captured with a formal yet dignified demeanor, dressed in traditional Victorian attire—a dark suit with a high-collared white shirt and cravat, reflecting the fashion of the mid-19th century. His face bears a thoughtful expression, with slightly furrowed brows, suggesting the intensity and curiosity of his intellectual life. Faraday's hair is carefully styled, typical of the period, with his receding hairline and sideburns prominently visible. His expression is calm, but his eyes convey sharp intelligence and deep concentration.

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