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Category Archive: Art

Love jewelry

Georgian gold acronym brooch REGARD, early 19th century.

Georgian gold acronym brooch REGARD, early 19th century.

At different times it happened that jewelry was not just jewelry, but veiled (and not so veiled) confessions. Such jewelry was popular in England at the end of the 18th and beginning of the 19th centuries, most often they were gifts from men in love to ladies of their hearts. The message itself was encrypted in the names of precious stones, from which a word was formed according to the principle of an acronym; most often, it was the word “REGARD”, literally meaning attention, respect. And in combination with other symbols – a declaration of love.

Gold brooch pendant REGARD, England, circa 1800.

Gold brooch pendant REGARD, England, circa 1800.

This exquisite brooch is a pledge of love from the distant past, meaning “The Key to my Heart.” The shape of the key and the heart that holds a lock of a loved one’s hair speak for themselves. But here is a set of pendants with precious stones: ruby, emerald, garnet, amethyst, ruby, diamond, this is the acronym for the word “REGARD”: Ruby, Emerald, Garnet, Amethyst, Ruby, Diamond.

In addition to “REGARD,” the most commonly used acronyms were “LOVE” (love) and “DEAREST” (dear, or rather, dearest):

  • “LOVE”: Lapis-lazui (lapis lazuli), Opal (opal), Vermeil (hessonite garnet) and Emerald (emerald).
  • “DEAREST”: Diamond, Emerald, Amethyst, Ruby, Emerald, Sapphire, Topaz or Turquoise.
REGARD gold ring with precious stones and enamel, England, circa 1860 1869.

REGARD gold ring with precious stones and enamel, England, circa 1860 1869.

Secret messages of love encoded in gemstones during the Georgian and Victorian eras corresponded with the public’s interest in romance and symbolic meanings. These sentimental jewels could be given to lovers, family members or close friends. In addition to the fact that the dove carries the message in the acronym, the image of this bird symbolizes love and loyalty. Sometimes such decorations were paired, which also meant a happy marriage, since turtle doves create a pair for life, build nests together and raise chicks together. It’s not for nothing that they say about a couple in love: “They are like two doves.”

Gold brooch REGARD in the form of a lyre, England, early 19th century.

Gold brooch REGARD in the form of a lyre, England, early 19th century.

It is believed that the acronym jewelry was first invented by Jean-Baptiste Melleriot from Paris, creating jewelry with precious stones that meant “j’adore” (adore). Napoleon Bonaparte admired Mellario’s jewelry designs and commissioned acronym jewelry for both Empress Josephine and his second wife, Empress Marie Louise.

Gold REGARD brooch with lock of hair, England, circa 1840.

Gold REGARD brooch with lock of hair, England, circa 1840.

In the center of the brooch there is a medallion containing a strand of braided hair, a characteristic sign of this romantic time. During the Victorian era, jewelry with strands woven into them were very popular.

“She was sitting next to Edward, and as he held out his hand for the cup of tea that Mrs. Dashwood poured for him, she noticed a ring on his finger—a ring with a lock of hair set into it.” (Jane Austen, Sense and Sensibility) .

Secret Lover medallion brooch, probably France, circa 1870

Secret Lover medallion brooch, probably France, circa 1870

But the next brooch-medallion is most likely of French work. A portrait miniature could be inserted into an oval medallion in the form of two glass lenses in a metal frame. Outside, the portrait was covered with decor in the form of a hand with a fan, made of gold with black and blue enamel, turquoise and pearls.

Gold filigree brooch REGARD in the form of a dove holding a heart shaped medallion in its beak, England, early 19th century.

Gold filigree brooch REGARD in the form of a dove holding a heart shaped medallion in its beak, England, early 19th century.

The portrait miniature is sandwiched between two glasses inside the medallion.

The portrait miniature is sandwiched between two glasses inside the medallion.

The secret of the medallion is that the fan could be folded by pressing a tab, revealing a miniature hidden in the medallion.

The secret of the medallion is that the fan could be folded by pressing a tab, revealing a miniature hidden in the medallion.

REGARD gold ring, Birmingham, 1903.

REGARD gold ring, Birmingham, 1903.

Gold brooch DEAREST, Julius Cohen, New York.

Gold brooch DEAREST, Julius Cohen, New York.

Love jewelry Fine details a ruby bracelet, a diamond ring, a hand holding a golden ball a pearl, between the thumb and forefinger.

Fine details a ruby bracelet, a diamond ring, a hand holding a golden ball a pearl, between the thumb and forefinger.

Love jewelry Rare gold hand brooch with luxurious cuff inscribed with the acronym DEAREST in jewels, England, circa 1860.

Rare gold hand brooch with luxurious cuff inscribed with the acronym DEAREST in jewels, England, circa 1860.

Love jewelry REGARD medallion brooch in yellow and green gold, England, early 19th century.

REGARD medallion brooch in yellow and green gold, England, early 19th century.

Love jewelry Gold medallion brooch REGARD, Edinburgh, early 19th century.

Gold medallion brooch REGARD, Edinburgh, early 19th century. Sentimental Jewelry.

Sentimental Jewelry Gold brooch medallion in the form of a lock with a key, England, early 19th century.

Brooch medallion in the form of a lock with a key, England, early 19th century.

Love jewelry Gold medallion brooch REGARD with a lock of hair, England, circa 1880. In this version, the medallion with a lock of hair is mounted on the reverse of the brooch.

Gold medallion brooch REGARD with a lock of hair, England, circa 1880. In this version, the medallion with a lock of hair is mounted on the reverse of the brooch.

Love jewelry Gold REGARD brooch with lock of hair, England, circa 1840.

Gold REGARD brooch with lock of hair, England, circa 1840. Love jewelry.

Love jewelry Pair of filigree REGARD dove brooches, England, circa 1820.

Pair of filigree REGARD dove brooches, England, circa 1820. Love jewelry.

Cindy Chao – Taiwanese jewelry designer

Peony brooch, rubies, diamonds, titanium, gold, Cindy Chao, 2018, from the collection of the Victoria and Albert Museum.

Peony brooch, rubies, diamonds, titanium, gold, Cindy Chao, 2018, from the collection of the Victoria and Albert Museum.

Cindy Chao is a Taiwanese jewelry designer. Cindy was born in 1974 in Taipei into a creative family, which determined her profession and influenced her style. Cindy’s father is a sculptor by profession, and her grandfather Hsieh Tzu-Nan was an architect who designed temples throughout Taiwan. According to Chao, it was her grandfather who inspired her interest in architecture and taught her to think in three dimensions. She learned various sculpting techniques and skills from her father, which eventually formed her own design signature.

Winter Leaves necklace, Cindy Chao, 2016.

Winter Leaves necklace, Cindy Chao, 2016.

The original, exquisite Winter Leaves necklace, impeccably handcrafted, features a constellation of approximately 6,000 intricately cut diamonds.

The original, exquisite Winter Leaves necklace, impeccably handcrafted, features a constellation of approximately 6,000 intricately cut diamonds.

Cindy went to New York to study jewelry making at the Fashion Institute of Technology and the Gemological Institute of America. She founded her brand in 2004 and now has showrooms in Taipei, Hong Kong and Shanghai. Her work is divided into two collections: Black Label and White Label.

Black Label Masterpieces are Cindy Chao’s most prestigious and exclusive creations, gems of art. They are the highest manifestation of her talent as a sculptor and artist. Original, innovative and technically sophisticated jewellery, created in limited quantities, each piece is named, numbered and dated. These masterpieces are presented once a year in invitation-only exhibitions and are highly prized by connoisseurs and collectors.

Ruby Butterfly brooch, Burmese rubies, diamonds, sapphires, Cindy Chao, 2008.

Ruby Butterfly brooch, Burmese rubies, diamonds, sapphires, Cindy Chao, 2008.

Every year since 2008, Cindy Chao’s collection has been updated with one of nature’s most stunningly beautiful and fragile creatures. This ornament is from the Annual Butterfly series. Each butterfly takes over 18 months to complete, with precious stones and thousands of pavé diamonds adorning its delicate wings. In 2010, Cindy Chao became one of the first Taiwanese jewelry artists to have her work purchased for the collection of the Smithsonian National Museum of Natural History.

Dragonfly brooch, presented at Paris Fashion Week 2016, conch pearls, rubies, diamonds, Cindy Chao.

Dragonfly brooch, presented at Paris Fashion Week 2016, conch pearls, rubies, diamonds.

Royal Butterfly Brooch, fancy cut diamonds, diamonds, sapphires, rubies, tsavorites, Cindy Chao, 2009, from the collection of the Smithsonian National Museum of Natural History.

Royal Butterfly Brooch, fancy cut diamonds, diamonds, sapphires, rubies, tsavorites, 2009, from the collection of the Smithsonian National Museum of Natural History.

Crimson Rose butterfly brooch, ruby cabochon, colored diamonds, rough diamonds, Cindy Chao, 2010.

Crimson Rose butterfly brooch, ruby cabochon, colored diamonds, rough diamonds, 2010.

Perfect Butterfly brooch, unusual yellow pear shaped diamond, colored diamonds and sapphires, rhodolites, Cindy Chao, 2011.

Perfect Butterfly brooch, unusual yellow pear shaped diamond, colored diamonds and sapphires, rhodolites, Cindy Chao, 2011.

Ruby Butterfly Brooch, Central Burmese Pigeon's Blood Ruby, Diamonds, Rubies, Cindy Chao, 2015 2016.

Ruby Butterfly Brooch, Central Burmese Pigeon’s Blood Ruby, Diamonds, Rubies, Cindy Chao, 2015 2016.

Brooch Transcendent Butterfly, diamonds, sapphires, Cindy Chao, 2012.

Brooch Transcendent Butterfly, diamonds, sapphires, Cindy Chao, 2012.

The 2014 Butterfly Ballerina Brooch was designed in collaboration with Sarah Jessica Parker.

The 2014 Butterfly Ballerina Brooch was designed in collaboration with Sarah Jessica Parker.

Aurora butterfly brooch, Burmese rubies, diamonds, sapphires, Cindy Chao, 2019.

Aurora butterfly brooch, Burmese rubies, diamonds, sapphires, Cindy Chao, 2019.

Damask Rose brooch, pink sapphires, orange sapphires, diamonds, titanium, gold, Cindy Chao, 2019.

Damask Rose brooch, pink sapphires, orange sapphires, diamonds, titanium, gold, Cindy Chao, 2019.

Brooch Emerald Bow, Colombian emerald, diamonds, alexandrites, green sapphires, titanium, gold, Cindy Chao, 2019.

Brooch Emerald Bow, Colombian emerald, diamonds, alexandrites, green sapphires, titanium, gold, Cindy Chao, 2019.

Four Seasons Collection Solstice Sculptural Bracelet, conch pearls, diamonds, green sapphires, alexandrites, gold, Cindy Chao, 2019.

Four Seasons Collection Solstice Sculptural Bracelet, conch pearls, diamonds, green sapphires, alexandrites.

Four Seasons Collection Sparkling Bracelet, sapphires, diamonds, gold, Cindy Chao, 2020.

Four Seasons Collection Sparkling Bracelet, sapphires, diamonds, 2020.

Brooch “Emerald Bow”, Colombian emerald, diamonds, alexandrites, green sapphires, titanium, gold, Cindy Chao, 2019.

Brooch “Emerald Bow”, Colombian emerald, diamonds, alexandrites, green sapphires, titanium.

Sculptural Lily bracelet, diamonds, sapphires, alexandrites, gold, Cindy Chao, 2019.

Sculptural Lily bracelet, diamonds, sapphires, alexandrites, gold.

Brooch Feather, sapphires, diamonds, titanium, Cindy Chao, 2019.

Brooch Feather, sapphires, diamonds, titanium.

Brooch bow, sapphires, tsavorites, diamonds, titanium, Cindy Chao, 2019.

Brooch bow, sapphires, tsavorites, diamonds, titanium, 2019.

Brooch Daisy, emerald, diamonds, titanium, gold, Cindy Chao, 2019.

Daisy Brooch , emerald, diamonds, titanium, gold, 2019.

Green Feather brooch, Colombian emeralds, diamonds, tsavorites, garnets, alexandrites, titanium, weight 48 g, Cindy Chao, 2020.

Green Feather brooch, Colombian emeralds, diamonds, tsavorites, garnets, alexandrites, titanium, weight 48 g, Cindy Chao, 2020.

Beautiful love story of chewing gum liners

Beautiful love story of chewing gum liners 'Love is...

Kim and Roberto, real prototypes of iconic characters. Beautiful love story of chewing gum liners ‘Love is…

Beautiful love story of chewing gum liners
The sweet romantic series “Love is …” has become the most popular in the post-Soviet space and the former republics of the USSR. The liners of this Turkish chewing gum were collectible and exchanged. Fortunately, I also have such a romantic collection. But I couldn’t even guess about a beautiful love story behind these bright images. It turns out that behind the images of a romantic couple of lovers were real prototypes. Actually, it was a story about love conquering death.

The author of these images was a cartoonist from New Zealand Kim Grove Casali. Aged 19, she began traveling around the world, and after 6 years she settled in California. There she met her future Italian husband Roberto Casali. It was he who inspired her to create two funny characters – a couple of lovers, the prototypes of which were they themselves.

Kim began to draw various episodes from the life of a married couple on napkins, signing above: “Love is …”, and ending the phrase below with text that matches the picture. According to the artist, it was like keeping a personal diary, which describes how her feelings developed.

It was Roberto who inspired Kim to create two funny characters - a couple of lovers, the prototypes of which were they themselves

It was Roberto who inspired Kim to create two funny characters – a couple of lovers, the prototypes of which were they themselves.

Kim and Roberto got married in New Zealand, in the same church where her parents had once married together. This was very important for her, because her father died when she was very young. Therefore, the girl had the only request to her chosen one: “Do what you want, but you must not die before me.” In response, he laughed and said he would try. On the bride was a wreath of daisies and a veil – exactly the same she then painted for her cartoon character. In the future, she used many episodes from their real married life as stories for her comics.

Author of iconic images, cartoonist from New Zealand Kim Grove Casali

Author of iconic images, cartoonist from New Zealand Kim Grove Casali.

Kim’s husband loved these cute characters so much that he decided to produce a comic book publication. First published in the newspaper in early 1970, since then they have been published in the Los Angeles Times weekly. At first, the characters even bore their names – the boy called the girl “Kim”, and she drew the first letter of his name in the sand – “R”. Soon these characters became so popular that their images began to appear not only in magazines, but also on t-shirts, mugs, calendars and posters. Noteworthy, the comics Love is were published in 50 countries!

Mother Kim with her sons

Mother Kim with her sons.

Unfortunately, the family happiness of Kim and Roberto did not last long: 4 years after the birth of sons, the man was diagnosed with cancer at the last stage. Unfortunately, the doctors could not help him. Kim left her comics in order to spend more time with her husband. But she did not want to quit this art, so she asked the British designer and animator Bill Asprey to replace her, continuing to draw comics under her name. Thus, he became the author of the first color comics.

Happy Kim with her youngest son

Happy Kim with her youngest son.

In 1975, Roberto had surgery, however doctors were not optimistic about his health, and the family was preparing for the worst. One day before Christmas, Kim told her husband that the best present for her would be another child. Then the couple decided to freeze Roberto’s sperm in case his wife could not get pregnant before his death. In 1976, at the age of 31, the artist’s husband passed away, and in the comics an image of a girl and a tombstone appeared.

Three sons of Kim and Roberto

Three sons of Kim and Roberto.

16 months after his death, Kim decided to carry out her plan, and gave birth to a child! After that, Kim issued a new postcard, which depicted her heroine with a stroller. The signature read: “We are pleased to introduce Milo Roberto. Parents: Kim and Roberto (posthumously, through artificial insemination). ”

...that super kiss given at twelve o'clock on the New Year's day

…that super kiss given at twelve o’clock on the New Year’s day.

After a while, Turkish manufacturer Intergum used the color drawings of Bill Asprey for gum liners. Interestingly, each bubble gum consisted of two halves with different colors and tastes, which symbolized the love of the two “halves”.

Unfortunately, the same illness took the life of Kim herself. At the age of 55, she died of bone and liver cancer (1997).

Accepting to be the guinea pig for her new dishes

Accepting to be the guinea pig for her new dishes.

Beautiful love story of chewing gum liners. Love is…

Allowing him her drive the car before taking out the insurance

Allowing him her drive the car before taking out the insurance.

Allowing the girl you love inter-city calls to her grandfather

Allowing the girl you love inter-city calls to her grandfather.

Approving his fishing adventures

Approving his fishing adventures.

Being her caddy when she goes golfing

Being her caddy when she goes golfing.

Cooking him a dessert when you are in diet

Cooking him a dessert when you are in diet.

Counting until 10 instead of shouting

Counting until 10 instead of shouting.

Eating less so that he loves you more

Eating less so that he loves you more.

Finding he has a high kissability factor

Finding he has a high kissability factor.

Finding strength in each other when the disaster strikes

Finding strength in each other when the disaster strikes.

Giving each other different nicknames

Giving each other different nicknames.

Giving up smoking together

Giving up smoking together.

Keeping him her always in your mind

Keeping him her always in your mind.

Leaving love messages into the drawers

Leaving love messages into the drawers.

letting put onion in the sandwich

letting put onion in the sandwich.

Motherhood

Motherhood.

love story of chewing gum liners. Not opening each other's letters

Not opening each other’s letters.

love story of chewing gum liners, Not without a few heartaches along the way

Not without a few heartaches along the way.

love story of chewing gum liners, Preparing him her breakfast in the morning

Preparing him her breakfast in the morning

love story of chewing gum liners, Sending her a love fax

Sending her a love fax.

love story of chewing gum liners, Sometimes crying on your best friend's shoulder

Sometimes crying on your best friend’s shoulder.

love story of chewing gum liners, Spending a few minutes together at midnight before Christmas

Spending a few minutes together at midnight before Christmas.

love story of chewing gum liners, Stealing a kiss when you stop before at the red light

Stealing a kiss when you stop before at the red light.

love story of chewing gum liners, Toasting to celebrate coming of the spring

Toasting to celebrate coming of the spring.

love story of chewing gum liners, watch your mouth when children are near

Watch your mouth when children are near.

love story of chewing gum liners, Welcoming the relatives with cheer

Welcoming the relatives with cheer.

love story of chewing gum liners, When the tide turns

When the tide turns

sources: 1, 2

Collage illustrations by Berto Martinez

Collage illustrations by Berto Martinez

Beautiful inspired by Paris fashion collage illustrations by Berto Martinez.

Collage illustrations by Berto Martinez
Fashion illustrator Berto Martinez.

Berto Martinez is an artist from Spain who graduated from the School of Applied Arts “Llotja”. Berto began his career as an illustrator in 1999. The artist illustrates cinema, fashion industry, sports and many other industries. But the most popular were his sketches of the fashion world. Berto Martinez’s illustrations are published in the glossy magazines Casa Woman, GQ, Woman, Punto, El Pais, Casa Nueva, CNR, Custo Barcelona, ​​Vanidad.

Often the center of attention in Berto’s works is an interesting composition, the artist collects original “collages” of several characters.

Most often, Berto works with watercolors and graphic editors. Currently, he is engaged not only in illustration, but also in interior design.

“I wanted to be an illustrator since I was a kid. Drawings in books and comics were my favorite toys then. When I saw a poster by artist Drew Struzan in the 80s, I thought, “This is what I want to do.”

“When I studied art, I realized that illustrations are a very interesting communication tool, especially if you work in the media, you can get quite a large audience.”
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Photography art by Jan von Holleben

Dreams of Flying. Photography art by Jan von Holleben

Creative photo project “Dreams of Flying”. Photography art by Jan von Holleben.

Photography art by Jan von Holleben
Based on his earlier series of photography titled “Dreams of Flying”, creative German photographer Jan von Holleben recently has presented the set of beautiful images. In fact, they were an addition to his series Dreams of Flying Revisited. In particular, he created the photographs of a young beautiful woman and her quirky bed of dreams for German newspaper ZEIT. According to the artist, he aimed “to create visual art work for a feature on dreams and what they mean to us”. Holleben amazingly transformed blankets and other everyday bedroom-type objects into imaginary but fun dream scenes.
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Vintage futurism of retro inspired ads

Vintage futurism of retro inspired ads. Facebook - striking, miraculous social team-up

Facebook – striking, miraculous social team-up. Vintage futurism of retro inspired ads.

Vintage futurism of retro inspired ads
Sao Paulo ad agency Moma Propaganda has created some hilarious vintage 1960s-style ads for Facebook, YouTube, Skype, and Playstation.

Well, just imagine how these net sites would look in the past. Outdated and aged images still inspire advertising campaigns today. Undoubtedly, the charm of passed era will never end. Its style, design and typography will always belong to the future. Meanwhile, Vintage powerfully conquers the fashion world. These wrapping and presenting current products and brands in ‘vintage’ style appear as Vintage futurism. And the creative connection between past and future will always attract us. According to Leo Burnett (October 21, 1891 – June 7, 1971), advertising executive and one of the most ‘creative’ men in the advertising business, ads should be simple. “Make it simple, memorable, and inviting to look at. And make it fun to read.” This is also true about retro inspired ads – simple, memorable, and fun to look at”.
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Metro stations hidden architecture

Warsaw Metro stations hidden architecture

Warsaw underground. Metro stations hidden architecture.

Metro stations hidden architecture
All the great cities of the world have their metropolitan net. At the most part of the cases, they are only functional infra-structures with thousands daily passersby. In other cases, like Moscow, lines and tunnels link stations with grandiose and retro architecture, where the passengers feel like guests of a solemnity. Through all over the world, we can find beautiful metropolitan stations, ancient or modern ones. It’s a pity that, at the daily rushing around, we have no time to take a long lasting kind of look…
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Live photographs by Arthur Mole

209th engineers camp Sheridan, 1919. Live photographs by Arthur Mole

209th engineers camp Sheridan, 1919. Group photography by American commercial photographer. Live photographs by Arthur Mole.

Live photographs by Arthur Mole
British-born American commercial photographer Arthur Samuel Mole (January 7, 1889, – 14 August 1983) became known for the series of his human photo compositions made during World War I. In particular, Woodrow Wilson, the Liberty Bell, Statue of Liberty, an American eagle, an emblem of the YMCA, and the Allied flag. Some massive compositions required the placement of to 30,000 people – soldiers, members of the military. John D. Thomas was his partner in this endeavor.

Noteworthy, Arthur Mole is a pioneer in the field of performed group photography. Executing photographs using such large numbers, and relying on lines of perspective stretching out more than a hundred meters, required a week of preparation. In addition, hours to actually position the formations. Mole would stand on his viewing tower and shout into a megaphone or use a long pole with a white flag to arrange the tens of thousands of soldiers into position.
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Georges Melies the First Cinemagician

Georges Melies the First Cinemagician

Talented French film-maker Georges Melies the First Cinemagician.

Georges Melies the First Cinemagician
French filmmaker Georges Melies was born on December 8, 1861. He was famous for leading many technical and narrative developments in the earliest cinema. Very innovative in the use of special effects, he accidentally discovered the stop trick, or substitution, in 1896. Besides, was one of the first filmmakers to use multiple exposures, time-lapse photography, dissolves, and hand-painted color in his films. Because of his ability to seemingly manipulate and transform reality through cinematography, Georges Melies – often referred to as the First “Cinemagician”.

Georges Melies the First Cinemagician

Famous worldwide, photo of Journey to the Moon, 1902.

Exercising total control over all aspects of the filmmaking process, Georges Melies created perfectly self-contained worlds, most of them shot within the confines of his glass-walled studio in Montreuil.

Journey to the Moon, 1902. Georges Melies filmed this remarkable work of art, the first science fiction film in the history of cinema. This Short-farcical comedy, parodied scenes by Jules Verne’s “From the gun to the Moon” and HG Wells’ First Men in the Moon”. The film was made with a simple decor, in a private studio by Georges Melies and his acting troupe.

The Mysterious Portrait, 1899 is a very simple little short, with Melies going back to the magician role as he presents a trick for us. It’s him again in the lead role, and he presents to us a frame in the middle of a room. He walks around it and inside of it to show that it is a normal frame.
The two of them make exchanges for several seconds, until Melies asks him to do something and the frame distorts and the Melies double goes out of view. Melies than dances around the set excited about the success of his trick.

Le chateau hante, 1897. Man defies the warnings of his friend and going to spend the night in a haunted castle. He nonchalantly sitting in a chair that suddenly disappears and reappears on the other side of the room, making the daredevil fall to the ground. A man stands up, looks around indignantly and goes to the chair, about to put it in its place, but suddenly there is a mystery man in white robes and a hood-wielding box. Drawing his sword, the man lunged, but in place of a stranger appears skeleton. He shakes the skeleton, and he turns into a big guard, dressed in armor. Then he disappears, but the other man appears behind, pointing to the new appearance of a stranger in white.

La lune a un metre, 1898. An astronomer observes through a telescope on the moon. Suddenly, he sees a girl on the moon and goes to her. But it eats the moon. Then he realizes it was a dream.

First and foremost, Georges Melies films are the work of a showman, the tricks proudly displayed while the wizardry is kept under wraps. Usually prized for their intricate mise-en-scene, his films are also feats of editing-as-illusion, a fact easily missed by those accustomed to associating cuts with spatial transitions.

Instead, many of Me´lie`s’s disguised cuts operate to facilitate a transformation; accordingly, all elements of the mise-en-scene must remain in the same place while a single object is removed or re-positioned to enable the visual trick to work effectively. Through these substitution splices, Georges Melies engaged in a form of invisible editing, though not the type associated with later classical storytelling methods.

Illusions phantasmagorias, 1898. The magician conjures a dove and place it in the box. Out of the box appears a boy whom the magician divides in two with an ax. The two boys quarrel, and the magician turns one of them into a sheet of paper, which he tears into pieces. He puts the second boy in the box. Then the magician hammer smashes box to show that the boy had disappeared. The Boy reappears and turns into flags. Magician disappears in a puff of smoke and re-enters through the door to bow to the audience.

Un homme de tetes, 1898. The magician takes off his three heads and plays the banjo. Then he hits all three heads with banjo and adds himself another head.

Georges Melies the First Cinemagician

Journey to the Moon, 1902

On the set of Journey to the Moon, 1902.

Journey to the Moon, 1902

Journey to the Moon, 1902.

The Mysterious Portrait, 1899

The Mysterious Portrait, 1899.

The Mysterious Portrait, 1899

He rolls up the backdrop to present to us a new one.

The Mysterious Portrait, 1899

Steps over to the side and then the frame features him.

The Mysterious Portrait, 1899

Melies places an actual picture into the frame, and then places a chair on the end of the frame.

The Mysterious Portrait, 1899

The trick is quite neat to see, especially once again considering that it is from 1899.

The Mysterious Portrait, 1899

The two of them make exchanges for several seconds, until Melies asks him to do something and the frame distorts and the Melies double goes out of view.

Le chateau hante, 1897

Le chateau hante, 1897.

Le chateau hante, 1897

1897 film Le chateau hante.

Le chateau hante, 1897

Horror. Le chateau hante, 1897.

La lune a un metre, 1898

Retro film La lune a un metre, 1898.

La lune a un metre, 1898

Silent era cinema, La lune a un metre, 1898.

La lune a un metre, 1898

Fabulous decoration. La lune a un metre, 1898.

La lune a un metre, 1898

La lune a un metre, 1898.

Illusions fantasmagoriques, 1898

Illusions fantasmagoriques, 1898.

Illusions fantasmagoriques, 1898

Fantasmagoriques, 1898.

Illusions fantasmagoriques, 1898

Creative Illusions fantasmagoriques, 1898.

Illusions fantasmagoriques, 1898

Scenes of Illusions fantasmagoriques, 1898.

Illusions fantasmagoriques, 1898

So called, Illusions fantasmagoriques, 1898.

Illusions fantasmagoriques, 1898

Fragment. Illusions fantasmagoriques, 1898.

Illusions fantasmagoriques, 1898

Tricks of Illusions fantasmagoriques, 1898.

Un homme de tetes, 1898

Un homme de tetes, 1898.

Un homme de tetes, 1898

Shot in 1898 Un homme de tetes.

Un homme de tetes, 1898

Still from Un homme de tetes, 1898.

Georges Melies the First Cinemagician

Director Georges Melies the First Cinemagician.

Georges Melies the First Cinemagician

The end. Georges Melies the First Cinemagician.