Giacomettis at the Biennale 1962

Giacometti, sculptures, 1960s, Venice, museum, exhibition
DUFOTO. Alberto Giacometti at the Biennale in Venice, 1962 | Koller Auktionen 2017
DUFOTO. Alberto Giacometti (sculptures) at the Biennale in Venice, 1962 | Koller Auktionen 2017

The Breathing Dance, 1928

Ágnes Kalmár Kövesházi in The Breathing Dance [Lélegzőtáncban] (costume: Elsa Kalmár Kövesházi), Cikk-Cakk evenings, 1928, MTA BTK Institute of Art History | src Artmagazin

Breathing exercises played an important role in the Hungarian dance school. Air and breathing exercises also played a big role in Agnes Kövesházi’s life. Since she had lung disease, the regular practice healed the dancer’s body and soul. It is likely that this disease was also the inspiration for her choreography Breathing Dance [Lélegzőtáncban].

Around 1928, Elsa Kalmár Kövesházi made a plaster sculpture entitled “Breathing Dance” (image below). The sculpture was inspired by Ágnes Kövesházi, the sculptor’s daughter. In the 1920s, Agnes was the leading dancer of Alice Madzar’s artists movement and co-creator Ödön Palasofszky’s Quintessential Theatre. Her own dance composition, which ran under the same name, was the inspiration for her mother’s work. The photograph of Ágnes Kövesházi, in a position corresponding to the sculpture work of “Breathing Dance”, was also left for posterity. Her dress is the same fan-like as the sculpture. The costume was also made by Elsa Kalmár Kövesházi.

According to the idea of ​​Elza Kalmár Kövesházi, a costume should start from the character of the movement, amplifying its characteristics: her richly pleated costume, which visually emphasizes the movement of the body, conveys every breath of the dancer. She immortalized her daughter’s solo piece together with other choreographies of the Hungarian Artists Group (Csitsibua, Bilincsek) in sculpture, creating exceptionally beautiful art deco sculptures.

Elsa Kalmár Kövesházi :: Breathing Dance, 1928 (Ágnes Kalmár Kövesházi, gypsum, 28.3 cm, Hungarian National Gallery) | src Óbudai Antiksz
Elsa Kalmár Kövesházi :: Lélegzőtánc | Breathing Dance, 1928 (Ágnes Kalmár Kövesházi, plaster, 28.3 cm, Hungarian National Gallery) | src Óbudai Antiksz

Colossal Olmec head

Richard Hewitt Stewart :: A giant Olmec head discovered in 1946 gets a patch, San Lorenzo, Mexico. | src Nat Geo
Richard Hewitt Stewart :: A giant Olmec head discovered in 1946 gets a patch, San Lorenzo, Mexico. | src Nat Geo
Colossal Olmec head. San Lorenzo, La Venta. From Ancient Mexican Art by Ferdinand Anton, 1969. | src Equator on IG
Colossal Olmec head. San Lorenzo, La Venta. From Ancient Mexican Art by Ferdinand Anton, 1969. | src Equator on IG

Lilliput comparisons, 1940-47

(top) Ladies of Fashion, ‘Lilliput’ comparison from August 1940 issue and (bottom) ‘Dancers’, from March 1947 issue.
Lilliput Pocket Omnibus, a magazine by Stefan Lorant. | src Flickr

Aktstudie, Berlin, um 1900

Heinrich Zille (1858–1929) :: Aktstudie (Nude Study), Berlin, um 1900. Stempel: verso u.: “AKTSTUDIEN / von Heinrich Zille Nr. 1/ 100 / by Schirmer/Mosel, München 1975”. Aus dem Portfolio “Aktstudien von Heinrich Zille”. | src MK&G ~ Museum für Kunst und Gewerbe (Hamburg)

Brigitte Helm as Antinéa, 1932

Une curieuse photographie de Brigitte Helm dans le rôle d’Antinéa de L’Atlantide, le nouveau film réalisé par G.W. Pabst (1932) edité | A curious photograph of Brigitte Helm in the role of Antinea from Atlantis, the new film directed by G.W. Pabst. | src amazon