The Public Domain Review

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Painted Photograph of an Unknown Man (ca. 1855–70)

Tuesday 11 October 2016 at 18:48

An unusual example of a painted photograph, in which the artist has left sections untouched by paint.

Source: http://publicdomainreview.org/collections/painted-photograph-of-an-unknown-man-ca-1855-70/


The Splash of a Drop (1895)

Thursday 6 October 2016 at 20:28

A delightfully focused study on the physics and aesthetics of a splashing drop, wit some wonderful diagrams.

Source: http://publicdomainreview.org/collections/the-splash-of-a-drop-1895/


Finnish Opera Singer Eino Rautavaara (1905–9)

Tuesday 4 October 2016 at 18:02

Recordings made between 1905 and 1909 by Finnish opera singer Eino Rautavaara (1879–1939)

Source: http://publicdomainreview.org/collections/eino-rautavaara-finnish-opera-singer-1905-9/


Pages From an Illustrated Catalogue of Period Ornaments (ca. 1919)

Thursday 29 September 2016 at 18:04

The Illustrated Catalogue of Period Ornaments Cast in Composition and Wood Fibre for Woodwork-Furniture features samples of wood carvings offered by the Decorators Supply Company of Chicago at the beginning of the 20th century. These decorative elements — so pleasingly presented in the catalogue — could be glued or nailed to furniture, ceilings, and other architectural surfaces. The catalogue would have been used not only to display the Company’s selectionâ�¦

Source: http://publicdomainreview.org/collections/pages-from-an-illustrated-catalogue-of-period-ornaments-ca-1919/


Kwaidan: Stories and Studies of Strange Things (1904)

Tuesday 27 September 2016 at 18:43

Deriving its title from the word for "ghost story" in Japanese this is a book by scholar and translator Lafcadio Hearn in which are compiled an array of ghost stories hailing from Japan.

Source: http://publicdomainreview.org/collections/kwaidan-stories-and-studies-of-strange-things-1904/


Opium Destruction, San Francisco (1914)

Thursday 22 September 2016 at 16:53

In the shadow of an unfinished City Hall, still clad in scaffolding, government authorities destroy confiscated opium in downtown San Fransisco, 1914.

Source: http://publicdomainreview.org/collections/opium-destruction-san-francisco-1914/


Out of Their Love They Made It: A Visual History of Buraq

Wednesday 21 September 2016 at 17:20

Although mentioned only briefly in the Qur'an, the story of the Prophet Muhammad's night journey to heaven astride a winged horse called Buraq has long caught the imagination of artists. Yasmine Seale charts the many representations of this enigmatic steed, from early Islamic scripture to contemporary Delhi, and explores what such a figure can tell us about the nature of belief.

Source: http://publicdomainreview.org/2016/09/21/out-of-their-love-they-made-it-a-visual-history-of-buraq/


Illustrations from a Descriptive Iconography of Cacti (1841)

Tuesday 20 September 2016 at 15:53

Illustrations of cacti featured in a 19th-century work by French botanist Charles Lemaire.

Source: http://publicdomainreview.org/collections/illustrations-from-a-descriptive-iconography-of-cacti-1841/


The Influence of the Blue Ray of the Sunlight and of the Blue Color of the Sky (1877)

Thursday 15 September 2016 at 17:22

True to the ideas held within — that blue light is bearer of unique and special properties — this book is entirely printed with blue ink on blue paper.

Source: http://publicdomainreview.org/collections/the-influence-of-the-blue-ray-of-the-sunlight-and-of-the-blue-color-of-the-sky-1877/


The Rowing-Bath (1916)

Wednesday 14 September 2016 at 18:21

A device which promises to secure the zest which accompanies the pleasant pastime of buffeting surf.

Source: http://publicdomainreview.org/collections/the-rowing-bath-1916/