A Black woman raises her arm against an older man in a white coat while a child clings to her skirt; a list of fruits and an inscription appear above.

NB! · Archive · Observations · Mores

Enslaved woman fights off her master's advances in a casta painting

It is well known that enslaved women were constantly subjected to violence by their masters, but it is pleasant to learn that at least one woman managed to repel the advances of her lord. And didn't the scoundrel get what was coming to him 💪🏽

NB! · Cinema · Observations · People

Today Gérard Depardieu Is 74

Today Gérard Depardieu is 74. This is how I remember him

NB! · Observations · Humour

My appearance before the New Year holidays and after the New Year holidays

Almaty · Observations · People

Choreographer Bulat Ayukhanov, founder of a dance theatre, died in Almaty on 13 December

It is with sorrow that I learnt that on 13 December the outstanding ballet master and dancer Bulat Ayukhanov died in Almaty. He would have turned 85 this year. Bulat Gazizovich and I had been acquainted since 2011; I often spoke about this remarkable artist and wrote about him. I

NB! · Observations · Education · Humour

When You Meet the First-Years

Architecture · Museums · Observations

Concrete replica of the Parthenon in Nashville, built for an exhibition and now a museum

In Nashville, Tennessee, there stands an exact full-size replica of the Athenian Parthenon, built in the city park between 1897 and 1931. An exact copy, with the proviso that no ancient calculations, technologies or materials were used in its construction. Naturally, the Nashville Parthenon is made not of flawless

NB! · Faith · Art · Observations · Rome

What charming sandals the Virgin wears in Carlo Maratti's "Flight into Egypt" in the Irish church of San Isidoro in Rome

Faith · The East · Observations · Rome · Humour

Pope Francis and the Magi

Am I the only one who finds it strange, this joyful meeting of the Bishop of Rome with Chaldean astrologers, Zoroastrian priests and sorcerers?

NB! · Books · Observations · Pop Culture

I have never worn a stitch of Thom Browne, but the collection inspired by the novel "Moby-Dick; or, The Whale" went straight to my heart 💎

NB! · Moscow · Observations

December Smiles upon Muscovites

Art · Museums · Observations · Society

An African offers emeralds from the Chavor mine on a golden tray

An African offers emeralds from the Chavor mine on a golden tray. To European sovereigns, by all appearances. Balthasar Permoser's sculpture of 1724 is on show at the Luxembourg Museum and, by and large, is not in the least archaic. The exploitation of Africa has since taken on

Coming Up · Art · Moscow · Observations

Interest in contemporary art has long proved that fairs and exhibitions are events not only for professionals and old hands of the art market, but also for a great many people with no connection to art, or only just beginning their acquaintance with…

Interest in contemporary art has long proved that fairs and exhibitions are events not only for professionals and old hands of the art market, but also for a great many people with no connection to art, or only just beginning their acquaintance with young, living artists. Among my acquaintances, many