dynamicafrica:

For his latest series, ‘An Economy of Grace’, Nigerian-American artist Kehinde Wiley features women as his subjects - a first in the history of his works.

Currently on show at the Sean Kelly Gallery in New York, Wiley teamed up with another current artistic force and the man behind the recent surge in success for French label Givenchy, Riccardo Tisci, who designed the costumes for the subjects in all of Wiley’s pieces.

Read a Huffington Post interview with Wiley about this exhibition.

(via dangermakesmistakes)

TW: BLOOD

invisiblelad: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.

Very cool musings here.

(via freecityrhymes)