theoddmentemporium:

Victorian Women Breastfeeding

At a time when when modesty was considered fundamental in women, the above images depict an unlikely fashion amongst mid-19th century mothers.

According to Gwen Sharp, an Assistant Professor of Sociology at Nevada State College, ‘The use of wet nurses had never been as common in the U.S. as in Europe, and it became even less popular by the early 1800s; breastfeeding your own child became a central measure of your worth as a mother. ‘Cultural constructions of femininity became highly centered on motherhood and the special bond between a mother and her children in the Victorian era.’

Given that the images are daguerrotypes - the first commercial photographic process - the subjects do not appear quite as at ease as their modern counterparts might. The women and their babies would have had to sit still for approximately ten minutes while the image developed on a silvered copper plate - presumably a challenge with small children involved.

(via fuckyeahvictorians)

(via heyyoshimi)

damienkempf:

These wonderful, and sometimes fantastic, images of marine animals come from Adriaen Coenen’s Visboek (FishBook), which he published in 1560 (Koninklijke Bibliotheek, 78 E 54). A fisherman, Coenen gathered all information he could find on the sea and its coasts, coastal waters, fishing grounds and marine animals, which he described in more than 800 pages.

You can browse the whole book here

(via burningfp)

theparisreview:

Artist Ekaterina Panikanova paints on old books. As you can see, the results are extraordinary.

(via komurki)

freaknangel:

designcloud:

Porcelain pieces by Mel Robson

Beautiful

new-aesthetic:

London: Composit by Aanand Prasad “composites the 100 most relevant Flickr photos for any search term you give it.” via Tom A.

Best thing ever!

(via omgx100)