The year 1990 marked the beginning of democracy in Romania, a time of social unrest and political struggles that would shape the country’s trajectory for years to come. It was a period of newfound freedom but also deepening divisions, some of which still re…
While Victor Brauner might not be a household name today, his impact on the art scene is nothing short of remarkable. Born in Romania in the early 1900s, Brauner's journey took an interesting turn in 1930 when he, like many others, sought refuge from the …
Mummy portraits have been found across Egypt, but are most common in the Fayum Basin, particularly from Hawara in the Faiyum Basin and the Hadrianic Roman city Antinoopolis. "Fayum portraits" is generally used as a stylistic, rather than a geographic, d…
Most of these rare and relatively intimate pictures of the Imperial Romanov family were taken by the head of the family and Russia's last tsar himself, Nicholas II. An insatiable photographer, the tsar took great care of his pictures, filing them carefully…
Men’s hair in the seventies was a joy to behold. There was a little bit of variation throughout the decade, from long to short, blow-dried and bouffant to spiked and bleached, with “overgrown” being the look that most people associate with the decade. Hairs…
The originally seven-car imperial train was intended for the heir of the throne Nicholas Alexandrovich (the future Nicholas II). It was built in 1894-1896 in the Main Car Workshops of the Nicholas Railway Line. And although the train was designed to acc…
During the Communist Era in Romania, huge massive Soviet-style apartment buildings were built everywhere. In the city of Alba Iulia, they were planning a majestic boulevard but realized one of those ugly monsters got in their way. The solution? They spl…
German racial laws were strictly enforced and sexual relationships between Germans and Poles were illegal. The placard around her neck reads: “Ich bin aus der Volksgemeinschaft ausgestoßen!" (English: "I am expelled from the People’s Community!”). Pictu…
Nicolae Ceausescu ruled Romania for 21 years, earning a reputation as a brutal dictator. During his reign, he developed the largest network of spies in Eastern Europe, silenced his opposition with a secret police force known as the Securitate, and eventual…
The early days of space exploration were marked by groundbreaking achievements, from historic Moon landings to awe-inspiring spacewalks. These iconic NASA images capture the spirit of an era when humanity took its first steps beyond Earth. NASA’s origins…
Fashion has always played a central role in holiday celebrations, from timeless little black dresses to whimsical, tacky sweaters and the excitement of shopping for new festive outfits. Yet some Christmas fashion trends stand out as especially curious—like …
Beneath the layers of ancient soil and forgotten ruins lie relics that have captivated and mystified historians for centuries. From the colossal stone statues of Easter Island to the intricate lines carved into the Peruvian desert, these rare archaeolog…
Nestled in northeastern France, Alsace is a region steeped in a rich and complex history, often serving as a cultural crossroads between France and Germany. This unique position is reflected in its hearty cuisine, charming villages, and distinctive traditio…
Helmets have been an important part of military history for thousands of years, with ancient civilizations around the world developing their own unique designs to protect their warriors in battle. From the earliest known examples in the Bronze Age to th…
This photo collection shows cringe-worthy and just plain awkward Christmas album covers from the past. Music associated with Christmas may be purely instrumental, or, in the case of carols or songs, may employ lyrics whose subject matter ranges from the nativi…
A cucumber forms a bulbous nose; the open maul of a wolf simulates an eye; a striking iron is an ear; a shark is a mouth; a pile of books composes a torso. These are some of the startling details in the composite paintings by Giuseppe Arcimboldo (1526-1…
This collection of photographs shows some of the world's oldest and oddest vending machines. Nowadays almost anything imaginable can now be purchased from the vending machines, however, the trend for automated purchases is nothing new, as these vintage phot…
During the first half of the twentieth century, the original Pennsylvania Station was one of New York City’s grandest landmarks, a palace in the middle of Manhattan. These photographs take readers back in time to the height of Penn Station’s glory. From con…
In the late 1920s and early 1930s, photographer Clifton R. Adams was commissioned by the National Geographic to document life in England. Adams’ beautiful autochromes—a process of producing color images by using potato starch—present images that capture…
Paris in the 19th century was as notorious for its noxious odors as it was for revolutionary riots. The streets overflowed with rubbish and horse dung, and anyone caught short in the open simply relieved themselves where they stood. To remedy this, city…