Primo Sinòpico - Illustrations

Raoul Chareun (Cagliari, 1889 – Milan, 1949) was a painter, illustrator and graphic designer known by the pseudonym of Primo Sinòpico. He spent the first years of his career in Padua, working as a cartoonist and caricaturist. Later he moved to Milan where he graduated at the Brera Academy in 1917 and worked as an illustrator for children books and for the major illustrated Italian magazines. He participated in the "Novecento" artistic movement. Sinòpico exhibited his works of art at the Venice Art Biennale and at the Rome Quadriennale.

1. Mineral waters, "La Medicina Italiana", Milan, 1919.

2. Advertising postcard for the magazine "Natura", Milan, 1929.

3. The agricultural machines, "L'Agricoltura Italiana illustrata", Milan, 1919.

4. The pastoralism, "L'Agricoltura Italiana illustrata", Milan, 1918.

5. The aviculture, "L'alimentazione", Milan, 1918.

6. The preserved meats, "L'alimentazione", Milan, 1918.

7. Book cover for "Rititì" by Francesco Pastonchi, 1920.

8. Illustration for "La Fiamma Verde" (the Green Flame), n. 5, Anno I, Milan, 1919.

9. Bicycle lamps, illustration for "La Fiamma Verde" (the Green Flame), n. 12, Anno II, Milan, 1920.

10. Illustration for "La Fiamma Verde" (the Green Flame), n. 12, Anno II, Milan, 1920.

11. The citriculture "L'alimentazione", Milan, (1919-20).

12. Illustration for "La festa" (The feast) n. 7, Milan, 1919.

13. The foxtrot heroes (1921).

14. Cordial Campari (c. 1920).

15. Cover illustration for the magazine "Ardita - Rivista del Popolo d'Italia", Milan 1920.

Women in Indian Cinema

1. Bari Bahoo by S. Bhagat, 1951 (National Film Archive of India).

2. Duniya Na Mane by V. Shantaram, 1937 (National Film Archive of India).

3. Durga Khote, Shanta Apte and Vasanti in Amar Jyoti by V. Shantaram. The film was presented at the Venice Film Festival in 1936. (National Film Archive of India).

4. Jayshree in Shakuntala by V. Shantaram, 1943 (B.D. Garga collection, India).

5. Janmabhoomi by Franz Osten, 1936 (National Film Archive of India).

6. Debshishu (Child God) by Utpalendu Chakraborty, 1985 (National Film Archive of India).

7. Utsav by Girish Karnad, 1985 (National Film Archive of India).

8. Parama directed by Aparna Sen and starred by Rakhee, 1985 (National Film Archive of India).

9. Nargis in Mother India, directed by Mehboob, 1957 (National Film Archive of India).

10. Mother India by Mehboob, 1957 (National Film Archive of India).

11. Astitva by Mahesh Manjrekar, 2000 (National Film Archive of India).

12. Film booklet of Mandi by Shyam Benegal, 1983 (National Film Archive of India).

13. Rekha in Umrao Jaan by Muzaffar Ali, 1981 (National Film Archive of India).

14. Madhubala in the role of the unfortunate courtesan Anarkali in the movie Mughal-E-Azam by K. Asif, 1960 (The Osian's Archive & Library, India).

15. Mughal-E-Azam by K. Asif, 1960 (The Osian's Archive & Library, India).

16. Duniya Kya Hai Aka (Resurrection), directed by G.P. Pawar, 1937 (The Osian's Archive & Library, India).

17. Arpana Sen in Teen Kanya by Satyajit Ray, 1961 (The Osian's Archive & Library, India).

18. The unforgettable Nargis in Awara by Raj Kapoor, 1951 (National Film Archive of India).

Book of Fixed Stars

I started a new image blog

here

Roman Mosaics of Tunisia

Tunisia. Roman civilisation. Mosaics dated from 2nd century AD to 4th century AD.

1. Bulla Regia. Detail. The produce of the sea: brightly coloured fishes, shells and shell-fish which were even brighter when fountain waters played over them. 4th century AD.

2. Bulla Regia. Detail. Love riding a dolphin carrying a jewel-case to Venus. Undisplaced.  4th century AD.

3. Sousse: Against the background of a geometric mosaic, a rush basket is depicted on its side and pouring out fish across the floor - a cornucopia of the abundant produce of the sea. Sousse Museum. 3rd century AD. 

4. A small panel depicting a long-legged wading-bird. Sfax Museum (unknown provenance).

5. A small mosaic depicting a cane basket containing grapes at which two birds are pecking. Sousse Museum (unknown provenance).

6. Moknine. Threshold of a house, decorated with prophylactic symbols. The eye of the envious, the caster of spells, is being attaked by snakes and by a fish - the beneficent and watchful guardians of the house against "evil eye". Sousse Museum.

7. Sousse Region. Medusa head. The pavement design consists of radiating scales in the middle of which is a Medusa head; we are reminded of the Aegis, Athene's invisible shield. Two little wings spring from Medusa's forehead and her face is surrounded by thick hair from which rise hissing snakes. Those who looked at her were turned to stone. Sousse Museum. 2nd-3rd century AD.

8. El Jem. A semi-circular painting which had been used as flooring for an apse. A geometric composition made of triangles rising towards the periphery across a net of intersecting curves. El Jem Museum.

9. Gafsa. Race in the circus - Quadriga driver (Detail of a large scene). Bardo Museum. 3rd century AD.

10. El Jem. Venus is coming up out of the water and is wringing out her wet hair. Two attendant cherubs hold for her the things she will be needing, such as a mirror and hair bands.

11. La Chebba. A ludicrous scene which belongs to the repertoire of Bacchic cults. Old, fat and drunk Silenus rides on the back of a donkey which a satyr and a faun are teasing. These figures usually accompany bacchus. Sfax Museum.

12. Oudna. Interwined floral motifs. The vertical stems of millet rise from vases and from a group of acanthus leaves; round these twine vines loaded with bunches of grapes. Bardo Museum. 3rd century AD.

13. Uzitta. Peacock feathers arranged to form a geometric pattern. Sousse Museum. 4th century A.D.

Africa - Adorning the body

1. Cameroon. Bamileke night society members. 20s - 30s of the XX century.

2. Bandjoun, West Region of Cameroon - Bamiléké mask decorated with pearls, this dancer wearing a colobus monkey hairs headdress and carries in his hands a ceremonial flyswatter.

3. Mali. Boys with Bamana Ntomo Masks which are worn at the circumcision ritual.

4. West of Ivory Coast. A young Manon girl painted for initiation ritual.

5. Democratic Republic of Congo - Hamba man of the forest dressed for the "Loukoutou dance" which strengthens matrimonial alliances between kinship groups (Photo: Luc de Heusch). 

6. Gabonese forest, Ngi dance mask painted in white (clay) and red (pounded earth). It is probably a mask carved after a dream where the form was revealed to the sleeper.

7. Gabon. Bakota people. 20s - 30s of the XX century.

8. Batéké Plateau (French Congo) - Big Chief Teke. 30s of the XX century.

9. Batéké dancer who has become a spirit of the air, a bird man, during the time of the feast. 

10. Neighborhood of Ewo. Group of teke men in feast dress with hairstyles in hornbill feathers, the bodies are painted with kaolin and dressed with skirts of fibers.

The Teke or Bateke and the Bakota are Bantu ethnic groups that live in the present-day area of the Republic of the Congo, Democratic Republic of the Congo and Gabon.

11. Northern Benin. An old Somba woman with wild boar teeth inserted in her nose and lower lip. 

12. Benin. Young Dompago hunters in feast dress.

13. Toma People, Guinea. Ouenilegagui, the Bird Man (Photo: Jean Fichter).

14. Toma People, Guinea. The Guelembaï in front of the forest of initiation (Photo: Jean Fichter).