Siren Song series by Victor Nizovtsev
Burgfräulein von Strechau, by an unknown artist from the 17th century. The painting hangs in the Kunsthistorisches Museum, Vienna.
The legend (as far as I can determine from the German websites I’ve deciphered with the help of Google Translate) tells that in the late Middle Ages a damsel waited for her lover who left to the Holy Land to fight the infidels. The lady promised that if he did not return she would enter a monastery. Despite her promise, she married another man and when the bride came to the festival her face changed to a skull and devilish figures appeared and pulled her down to hell in front of all the guests.
The legend is derived from a poem.
This is also a good photograph of the painting, via Flickr.
-1910
John Collier (British, 1850-1934), “Lady Godiva” detail, 1914.
Nice Guys Finish Dead by Albert Conroy. Cover art by Mitchell Hooks, 1957 (x)
Detail from Une Semaine de Bonté by German artist Max Ernst, published in 1934
People look the most kissable when they’re not wearing makeup. Marilyn’s lips weren’t kissable but they were photographable. - Andy Warhol
