#Battle of Toulouse

[its-to-the-death]

Battle of the Gingers Wave 1 Preliminary Round #35

Whoever gets the most votes moves onto the next wave

[kouros-herc]

Now this was the question Hercules had been dreading. He didn't have an artistic bone in his body. It would have been nice, perhaps. Back when he was just a skinny kid with no friends, he'd seen how many of the other kids like that shared their love of art. But his brain simply didn't work like that. Anything he tried to express, be it words or art, came out clumsy and misshapen.

So he would have loved it if Toulouse had a vision, for the project. But he didn't... or at least, wanted some input. So Hercules had done what he always did. Put time in.

"Well I did some research," he shifted from foot to foot. "Loads of people seem to go for those sort of ... random collection of gym equipment and random fitness slogans and bright colours kind of things." He glanced at Lou. "Now I know that's not exactly your thing... to be honest I'm not sure it's mine either. I really want something more welcoming, you know? That says anyone is welcome here. I'm not really sure how to work that into art though. It's not as though that makes for a nice landscape or something. But would you be comfortable with something more stylised? Perhaps like, showing different people working out?"

@lou-bonfightme

The Hardest Battles - Lerc

[bestmothertournament]

Propaganda Under Cut:

Kya (Mother of Sokka and Katara): Kya took care of her daughter whenever she was ill with the cold. Kya sacrificed herself to protect her from being killed by the Fire Nation. Her death devestated both her children.

Duchess (Mother of Marie, Toulouse and Berlioz): Caring and protective of her children, trying to develop them into proper members of French society.

[josefavomjaaga]

Letter from Duroc to Eugène about events in Spain

Apologies, I’m lazy. This letter is a bit shorter than the one from 1805 that I actually wanted to translate. I’ll do this one first.

Historical context: This letter is written from Spain, a couple of weeks after the Spanish Bourbon double abdication at Bayonne and the Dos de Mayo uprisings. Joseph has already been made king of Spain, Murat king of Naples. For the moment, everything seems fine. Several marshals and generals, Soult among them, are still in Germany, administering the occupied Prussian provinces.

[Probably Marrac, ca. 17 – 21 July 1808] Monseigneur, the Emperor is about to leave on a tour of Pau, Toulouse, Bordeaux, Rochefort, Nantes, Angers, Tours and Blois and if from there or on the way we are not recalled by the affairs of Spain, we can go hunting in Rambouillet or else we will return to Marrac.

The Empress is going to take the waters at Barège, and there has been fighting in Spain. Bessières, with 15,000 men against 35,000, had what can be called a battle and cut to pieces 35,000 men, half peasants, half troops of the line, from the garrisons of Galicia and Asturias. This was a very fortunate event because the forces gathered in the kingdom of Leon were at a point that was essential for army communications and for interesting outposts. Marshal Moncey, after defeating the insurgents in Valencia, has taken up a position closer to Madrid to obtain all that he needs from it.

Madrid is very quiet and the King will soon arrive there. The Grand Duke of Berg - King of Naples - is recovering at the spa. The Grand Duchess has gone to Paris from where she will set off for her kingdom. She is uncertain whether she will pass through Milan. It has occurred to me that there has been a lot of talk about you here and that the Emperor has expressed his satisfaction with you and the hopes he has placed in you. He made no secret of the fact that if circumstances forced him one day to return to the head of the armies, he would take you as his lieutenant in the same way as the Grand Duke. I'm sure that now you'll be making all sorts of wishes for war.

I thought you would be very pleased to know this and I am very happy to know it too. Please accept, Monseigneur, the assurance of my respect and attachment. Le duc de Frioul

[P.S.:] General Sorbier hopes to have returned to favour and to be able to continue as your aide-de-camp. He was very sad to think that he would have to give that up.

-

Events indeed soon would have recalled Napoleon to Spain, with the defeats of Baylén and Vimeiro and Joseph being chased from his throne. Except he didn’t go there because he chose to meet Alexander in Erfurt first and to let Joseph hang a little longer. He will only return late in the year.

Of course Duroc will praise Bessières’s victory to best buddy Eugène. 😁

There is indeed some indication that Eugène’s name was floated around during the discussion in Bayonne, at least such rumours were mentioned in newspapers. This may have been only to distract from Napoleon’s true plans, however. As far as I am aware, he only offered the crown of Spain to his brothers Louis, Jérôme and possibly Lucien (?) before giving it to Joseph and letting Murat choose between Portugal and Naples.

However, there must have been an earlier letter from Duroc to Eugène that is now lost, hinting at Eugène possibly being a candidate for the throne of Naples if Joseph left for Spain. We know this because Eugène, as a footnote states, mentions this letter from Duroc in a letter to his sister in June 1808. And his reaction to that veiled proposal was quite characteristic, too: Dieu me garde de cette galère! - God save me from this mess!

So, presumably, Eugène for once was grateful to Murat for picking Naples as his kingdom.

The passage in which Duroc gossips about Napoleon being satisfied with Eugène’s work reminds me a bit of the brief congratulation to Murat that I posted earlier. Napoleon was not in the habit of praising people to their face, so Duroc made sure they knew that the emperor thought they had done well.

General Sorbier by the way had been Eugène’s aide de camp since 1807 but had then received a promotion and had to move on to take a command in the army of Portugal. I’m not sure why he would have been in disgrace, maybe that’s just a figure of speech. In any case, he did return to Eugène’s side as his ADC, only to get mortally wounded during the battle of Caldiero in 1809. There’s a letter from Eugène to his wife mention that "poor Sorbier has been seriously wounded". Sorbier was transported back to Verona but died of his wounds some time later.

[aheathen-conceivably]

Violette came home from school with a science project, and after only a little wheeling and dealing convinced her parents (mostly Zelda) to put the volcano together for her. Needless to say, she was quite pleased with her efforts.

Plus that night’s ongoing battle with fire included under the cut 👀

This makes nine fires in this save file, and while the 1920s were originally the suspected culprit, the watcher now has reason to believe it was Violette and Toulouse conspiring all along.

She swiftly downloaded a mod to prevent further catastrophe, even if it means we never get to see fireman Antoine again❤️‍🔥

[ardenrosegarden]

The young Philip had no use for the patience and guile that had marked his father’s handling of the Angevin problem. A young man in a hurry, he faced in Henry an exhausted and increasingly disillusioned old man. Philip’s early successes over the duke of Burgundy and the count of Flanders gave him the confidence to launch an open attack against Henry in 1186. After the death of Geoffrey, count of Brittany, he challenged Henry’s control of Brittany and threatened to invade Normandy if Richard did not retreat from Toulouse. Therefore the last two years of Henry’s reign offered a sharp contrast with almost all that had gone before. The cold war gave way to open military conflict; a conflict that, for the first time in his life, Henry was to lose, as he also lost the loyalty of both his surviving sons, Richard and John. Like Simon de Montfort at the battle of Evesham, Henry will have looked on his lord Philip and his son Richard as they swept to victory, and reflected that they had learned their winning tactics from him. In many ways, Philip Augustus was to prove to be Henry’s, rather than his father’s, true successor on the European stage when, using his new-found financial and military power, he recreated the bonds of lordship to reflect his own desires.

-Jean Dunbabin, Henry II and Louis VII

[brookstonalmanac]

Holidays 7.3

Holidays

Air Conditioning Appreciation Day

American Redneck Day

Anti-Aircraft Missile Troops Day (Ukraine)

Army Day (Guatemala)

Beh Deinkhlan (Meghalaya, India)

Chamois Day (French Republic)

Colour TV Demonstration Day

Compliment Your Mirror Day

Disobedience Day

Dog Days of Summer begin [until August 11]

Emancipation Day (U.S. Virgin Islands)

Family Day (Lesotho)

Festival of the Wilderness

Fiesta del Fuego begins (Festival of Fire; Cuba; through 9th)

Fishermen’s Day (Marshall Islands)

Gettysburg Day

Independence Eve (What If We Won; Newcastle Brown Ale)

International Drop a Rock Day

International Plastic Bag Free Day

Jaindl-Good Day

Lady Gaga Day (Taiwan)

Mallard Steam Engine World Record Day

Mallow Day

National Air Conditioning Appreciation Day

National Bereaved Parents Day (UK)

National Burpee Day

National CROWN Day (Black Hair Independence Day)

Perfect Pac-Man Day

Quebec Day

Raid on Entebbe Day

Sata-Hame Soi Accordion Festival begins (Ikaalinen, Finland) [thru Sunday]

703 Day

Start the Conversation Day

Stay Out of the Sun Day

Superman Day (New York World’s Fair; 1940)

Temple Asteroid Day

Traffic Patrol Day (Russia)

Women’s Day (Myanmar)

World Awareness Day for Rubenstein-Taybi Syndrome

World Billionaires Day

World Meerkat Day

World Seabird Day

Food & Drink Celebrations

American Sparkling Wine Day

Cultivated Strawberry Day

National Chocolate Wafer Day

National Eat Your Beans Day (a.k.a. Eat Beans Day)

National Fried Clam Day

National Independent Beer Run Day

Independence & Related Days

Belarus (from German Occupation, 1944)

Idaho (US Statehood Day; 1890) [#43]

Quebec (Foundation Day; 1608)

Urabba Parks (Declared; 2012) [unrecognized]

New Year’s Days

New Year’s Day (Seminole Tribe; Florida)

1st Wednesday in July

Multiple Disadvantage Awareness Day [1st Wednesday]

National Property Managers’ Day (New Zealand) [1st Wednesday]

Zine Distro Appreciation Day [1st Wednesday]

Weekly Holidays beginning July 3 (1st Week of July)

Air Conditioning Appreciation Days (thru 8.15)

Dogs Days (Ancient Rome) [thru 8.11]

Festivals Beginning July 3, 2024

Battle Creek Field of Flight Air Show and Balloon Festival (Battle Creek, Michigan) [thru 7.7]

The Buxton Festival Fringe (Buxton, United Kingdom)

Grand Bay Watermelon Festival (Grand Bay, Alabama) [thru 7.7]

Istanbul Jazz Festival (Istanbul, Turkey) [thru 7.18]

Key Lime Festival (Key West, Florida) [thru 7.7]

Kongsberg Jazzfestival (Kongsberg, Norway) [thru 7.6]

Marquette County Fair (Westfield , Wisconsin) [thru 7.7]

Off d’Avignon (Avignon, France) [thru 7.21]

Feast Days

Aaron and Julius (Christian; Saints)

Albert Gottschalk (Artology)

Alec Guinness Day (Church of the SubGenius; Saint)

Anatolius of Constantinople (Christian; Saint)

Anatolius of Laodicea (Christian; Saint)

Bernardino Realino (Christian; Saint)

Bertram (Christian; Saint)

Chinese Writing Stone Day (Starza Pagan Book of Days)

Corneille Guillaume Beverloo (Artology)

Dathus (Christian; Saint)

Dave Barry (Writerism)

Didier Mouron (Artology)

Dipolieia (Ancient Greek Festival of Zeus as God of the City)

Distressed Elves’ Creditors’ Pets’ Day (Shamanism)

Feast of Athena (Ancient Greece)

Festival of Cerridwen (Welsh Goddess of Barley)

Franz Kafka (Writerism)

Germanus of Man (Christian; Saint)

Gerbert (Positivist; Saint)

Green Corn Dance (Seminole Tribe)

Gurthiern, Abbot in Brittany (Christian; Saint)

Guthagon of Oostkerk (Christian; Saint)

Harald Kihle (Artology)

Heliodorus of Altino (Christian; Saint)

Irenaeus and Mustiola (Christian; Martyrs)

Johann Friedrich Overbeck (Artology)

John Singleton Copley (Artology)

Julius and Aaron (Christian; Martyrs)

Leo II, Pope (Christian; Saint)

Marinus (Christian; Martyr)

Melvin Milk (Muppetism)

Mongan (Celtic Book of Days)

Mucian (Christian; Saint)

Philip Jamison (Artology)

Phocas (Christian; Saint)

Peregrina Mogas Fontcuberta (Christian; Saint) Questpit Pitch Day

Raymond of Toulouse (Christian; Saint)

Rose of the World Day (Palestinian Christian)

Rumbled (a.k.a. Rombaut; Christian; Martyr)

Sándor Bortnyik (Artology)

Solstitium III (Pagan)

Strange Urges Day (Pastafarian)

Thomas the Apostle (Christian; Saint)

Tom Stoppard (Writerism)

Whip Someone with a Wet Noodle Day (Pastafarian)

Witch of Gaeta Festival (Italy)

Lucky & Unlucky Days

Tomobiki (友引 Japan) [Good luck all day, except at noon.]

Unfortunate Day (Pagan) [38 of 57]

Premieres

The Abbot and Costello Show (Radio Series; 1940)

Adventures in Babysitting (Film; 1987)

The Amazing Spider-Man (Film; 2012)

Baby Wants a Bottleship (Fleischer Popeye Cartoon; 1942)

Back to the Future (Film; 1985)

Birdman of Alcatraz (Film; 1962)

Blondie (Radio Series; 1939)

Brown Sugar, by D’Angelo (Album; 995)

Despicable Me 2 (Animated Film; 2013)

Despicable Me 4 (Animated Film; 2024)

The Dharma Bums, by Jack Kerouac (Novel; 1958)

Fat Lip, by Sum 41 (Song; 2001)

Fireworks (America Rocks Cartoon; Schoolhouse Rock; 1976)

Fireworks (Animated Film; 2018)

Hamilton (Filmed Broadway Play; 2020)

I’m Still Standing, by Elton John (Song; 1983)

Independence Day (Film; 1996)

Innerspace (Film; 1987)

Le Cop on Le Rocks (The Inspector Cartoon; 1967)

The Lone Ranger (Film; 2013)

Men in Black II (Film; 2002)

Midsommer (Film; 2019)

A Picture of Her Face, by Scott Joplin (Song; 1895)

Porky’s Super Service (WB LT Cartoon; 1937)

Smoke Signals (Film; 1998)

Strangers on a Train (Film; 1951)

Summer of My German Soldier, by Bette Greene (Novel; 1973)

Terminator 2: Judgment Day (Film; 1991)

Transformers (Film; 2007)

Trolley Ahoy (Rainbow Parade Cartoon; 1936)

The Wallflower (Phantasies Cartoon; 1941)

Today’s Name Days

Günther, Ramon, Ramona, Thomas (Austria)

Toma, Tomislav (Croatia)

Radomír (Czech Republic)

Cornelius (Denmark)

Arvo, Aulik (Estonia)

Arvo (Finland)

Thomas (France)

Ramon, Ramona, Thomas (Germany)

Anatolios, Yakinthos, Zoumboulia (Greece)

Kornél, Soma (Hungary)

Leone, Tommaso (Italy)

Benita, Bonita, Everita, Sulamite (Latvia)

Anatolijus, Liaudmina, Vaidilas (Lithuania)

André, Andrea, Andrine (Norway)

Anatol, Jacek, Korneli, Leon, Miłosław, Otto (Poland)

Iachint (România)

Miroslav (Slovakia)

Heliodoro, Tomás (Spain)

Aurora (Sweden)

Anatole (Ukraine)

Anatol, Anatola, Lindsay, Lindsey, Lyndsey (USA)

Today is Also…

Day of Year: Day 185 of 2024; 181 days remaining in the year

ISO: Day 3 of week 27 of 2024

Celtic Tree Calendar: Duir (Oak) [Day 25 of 28]

Chinese: Month 5 (Geng-Wu), Day 28 (Wu-Chen)

Chinese Year of the: Dragon 4722 (until January 29, 2025) [Wu-Chen]

Hebrew: 27 Sivan 5784

Islamic: 26 Dhu al-Hijjah 1445

J Cal: 5 Red; Fryday [5 of 30]

Julian: 20 June 2024

Moon: 6%: Waning Crescent

Positivist: 16 Charlemagne (7th Month) [Gerbert]

Runic Half Month: Feoh (Wealth) [Day 10 of 15]

Season: Summer (Day 14 of 94)

Week: 1st Week of July

Zodiac: Cancer (Day 13 of 31)

[rangerdoubt]

Unusual Muse Associations

i have been trying to unfry myself for the last... week? two weeks? three weeks? and alas it is not Working but while i wait for the brain cells to come back online, thank u to @silvery-bluish and @thenightdayblogger for tagging me and giving me a reason to think about Blorbos again <333

i've done miri and zoya, but i just reregistered for the shepherds of haven patreon and the test kiddo i completed the alpha with is now. a whole new character :'))

I HAVE NO IDEA WHO TO TAG so if u see this <33333 ur it. i have water spritzer to ur head. tell me things about ur kids

CAPT. VERO CORMORANT (ket-raised, circle-trained battle-mage. red-mancer. closest to blade, chase, ayla. hates going on vacation but needs one anyway.)

SEASONING: perilla leaf

WEATHER: storms. inches from getting struck by lightning. getting pelted by half-rain half-hail. either you're warm and inside, or you're out in your rainboots just Leaning Into It.

COLOR: dark, dark indigo.

SKY: red skies in the morning--she prefers to see things coming, even (especially?) if it's bad news

MAGICAL POWER: chain lightning evocation? pyrokinesis

HOUSE PLANT: philodendron gloriosum (Beeg Leef. not that she's very good with plants, she just wishes she was)

WEAPON: she has a dagger in canon, but she also likes bigger light blades like the light cavalry sabre

SUBJECT: using a very serious degree (mechanical engineering? architecture?) for very stupid reasons (blowing things up)

SOCIAL MEDIA: she would not and should not be on social media. but for the purpose of the question, she gets on tiktok and has to be Fished Out.

MAKEUP PRODUCT: contour/highlight palette

CANDY: cadbury eggs

FEAR: oh, you know, when something brushes your foot in the lake. things with too many teeth. dying alone. (being too late, being the last one standing again, having to live with the cost of your own failure--)

ICE CUBE SHAPE: can't go wrong with a classic cube tbh. if you want to get really adventurous, make them out of the drink you're going to put them in.

METHOD OF LONG-DISTANCE TRAVEL: get red to teleport her places Giant Cat™️

ART STYLE: when she draws, she does a lot of sketchy charcoal figure drawings. but i associate her with whatever toulouse-lautrec is doing with the launderess. the brushstrokes and the light. the

MYTHOLOGICAL CREATURE: banshee.

PIECE OF STATIONERY: do the little letter openers count? if not, wax seals of various kinds

THREE EMOJIS: 🗡️🪷🌙

CELESTIAL BODY: north star

[kapitein-oranghien-29]

Where does Pepin's title comes from? Do you have any lore about it? (and please don't hesitate to share lore about all your other characters too they're all so endearing ohmygod)

How awsome you want to know more about my lads! Of course I have lore, I'll slim it down a little hehe (´｡• ᵕ •｡`) ♡

Let's start with the name, Toulouse. Toulouse was was a big city point in the time I've set him in; 730 CE. Pepin is a son from a franconian warrior(king), the man he is arranged to is andalusian warlord. I was inspired by the battle of tours/poiters that took place then, it was fought between the Franks and the Andalusian people. its a fascinating eara that is overlooked in my personal opinion!

Now you are more interested in how the virgin made it into his title didn't ya? So I'll explain. I must say I (obviously) shifted real history just a little bit, completely f9r my own amusement. These countries/continents have been at war for a long time, and have fought brutal battles. Now pepin’s dad, the lord, isn't a fool and can see the size,faith and strength of these armies closing in on his home. And as the ruler he is, he'll try anyting to save his own ass [ahem, his people too of course yeah that's totally the reason] so came the plan for a peace offering. Now whats a more humble and trusting gift, of your own child? 

Pepin was the 8th child of the Lord and lady. He had five brothers and two sisters, his sisters being the oldest, but his oldest brother was heir to the throne. It was already decided at birth that Pepin would become a bluntly called peace offering. He had an auburn orange mane like his father, but what sealed his fate was his ivory white fur. It was like he was albino, if it weren't for his fiery hair. A truly honorable suitor would have to be a virgin—no cuts, polished, and with a silky flowing mane. So they did everyting to keep him pretty and preserved, not even cutting his hair. Pepin was more raised (and handled) as a porcelain doll. 

So, Pepin, names after a king from the 7th century. He was the virgin Prince, in every way you could describe it, so he was the perfect gift to bring a good relationship between the counies. And he was from the city of Toulouse. 

[gentrychild]

Whoever invented fever is gonna get beheaded by me...as soon as im able to move. Will you jpin me and toulouse in this glorious battle ? (Only upside is that toulouse is currently purring on my chest like a boat.hes. so precious)

I got a bad flu a week ago! I understand your pain! You have my sword! And my awe! And my morningstar!

[meisterdrucke]

The Battle of Milvian Bridge, Victory of Constantine over Maxentius by Nicolas Tournier

Oil on canvas, Musee des Augustins, Toulouse, France

[lesmislettersdaily]

A Double Quartette

Volume 1: Fantine; Book 3: In The Year 1817; Chapter 2

These Parisians came, one from Toulouse, another from Limoges, the third from Cahors, and the fourth from Montauban; but they were students; and when one says student, one says Parisian: to study in Paris is to be born in Paris.

These young men were insignificant; every one has seen such faces; four specimens of humanity taken at random; neither good nor bad, neither wise nor ignorant, neither geniuses nor fools; handsome, with that charming April which is called twenty years. They were four Oscars; for, at that epoch, Arthurs did not yet exist. Burn for him the perfumes of Araby! exclaimed romance. Oscar advances. Oscar, I shall behold him! People had just emerged from Ossian; elegance was Scandinavian and Caledonian; the pure English style was only to prevail later, and the first of the Arthurs, Wellington, had but just won the battle of Waterloo.

These Oscars bore the names, one of Félix Tholomyès, of Toulouse; the second, Listolier, of Cahors; the next, Fameuil, of Limoges; the last, Blachevelle, of Montauban. Naturally, each of them had his mistress. Blachevelle loved Favourite, so named because she had been in England; Listolier adored Dahlia, who had taken for her nickname the name of a flower; Fameuil idolized Zéphine, an abridgment of Joséphine; Tholomyès had Fantine, called the Blonde, because of her beautiful, sunny hair.

Favourite, Dahlia, Zéphine, and Fantine were four ravishing young women, perfumed and radiant, still a little like working-women, and not yet entirely divorced from their needles; somewhat disturbed by intrigues, but still retaining on their faces something of the serenity of toil, and in their souls that flower of honesty which survives the first fall in woman. One of the four was called the young, because she was the youngest of them, and one was called the old; the old one was twenty-three. Not to conceal anything, the three first were more experienced, more heedless, and more emancipated into the tumult of life than Fantine the Blonde, who was still in her first illusions.

Dahlia, Zéphine, and especially Favourite, could not have said as much. There had already been more than one episode in their romance, though hardly begun; and the lover who had borne the name of Adolph in the first chapter had turned out to be Alphonse in the second, and Gustave in the third. Poverty and coquetry are two fatal counsellors; one scolds and the other flatters, and the beautiful daughters of the people have both of them whispering in their ear, each on its own side. These badly guarded souls listen. Hence the falls which they accomplish, and the stones which are thrown at them. They are overwhelmed with splendor of all that is immaculate and inaccessible. Alas! what if the Jungfrau were hungry?

Favourite having been in England, was admired by Dahlia and Zéphine. She had had an establishment of her own very early in life. Her father was an old unmarried professor of mathematics, a brutal man and a braggart, who went out to give lessons in spite of his age. This professor, when he was a young man, had one day seen a chambermaid’s gown catch on a fender; he had fallen in love in consequence of this accident. The result had been Favourite. She met her father from time to time, and he bowed to her. One morning an old woman with the air of a devotee, had entered her apartments, and had said to her, “You do not know me, Mamemoiselle?” “No.” “I am your mother.” Then the old woman opened the sideboard, and ate and drank, had a mattress which she owned brought in, and installed herself. This cross and pious old mother never spoke to Favourite, remained hours without uttering a word, breakfasted, dined, and supped for four, and went down to the porter’s quarters for company, where she spoke ill of her daughter.

It was having rosy nails that were too pretty which had drawn Dahlia to Listolier, to others perhaps, to idleness. How could she make such nails work? She who wishes to remain virtuous must not have pity on her hands. As for Zéphine, she had conquered Fameuil by her roguish and caressing little way of saying “Yes, sir.”

The young men were comrades; the young girls were friends. Such loves are always accompanied by such friendships.

Goodness and philosophy are two distinct things; the proof of this is that, after making all due allowances for these little irregular households, Favourite, Zéphine, and Dahlia were philosophical young women, while Fantine was a good girl.

Good! some one will exclaim; and Tholomyès? Solomon would reply that love forms a part of wisdom. We will confine ourselves to saying that the love of Fantine was a first love, a sole love, a faithful love.

She alone, of all the four, was not called “thou” by a single one of them.

Fantine was one of those beings who blossom, so to speak, from the dregs of the people. Though she had emerged from the most unfathomable depths of social shadow, she bore on her brow the sign of the anonymous and the unknown. She was born at M. sur M. Of what parents? Who can say? She had never known father or mother. She was called Fantine. Why Fantine? She had never borne any other name. At the epoch of her birth the Directory still existed. She had no family name; she had no family; no baptismal name; the Church no longer existed. She bore the name which pleased the first random passer-by, who had encountered her, when a very small child, running bare-legged in the street. She received the name as she received the water from the clouds upon her brow when it rained. She was called little Fantine. No one knew more than that. This human creature had entered life in just this way. At the age of ten, Fantine quitted the town and went to service with some farmers in the neighborhood. At fifteen she came to Paris “to seek her fortune.” Fantine was beautiful, and remained pure as long as she could. She was a lovely blonde, with fine teeth. She had gold and pearls for her dowry; but her gold was on her head, and her pearls were in her mouth.

She worked for her living; then, still for the sake of her living,—for the heart, also, has its hunger,—she loved.

She loved Tholomyès.

An amour for him; passion for her. The streets of the Latin quarter, filled with throngs of students and grisettes, saw the beginning of their dream. Fantine had long evaded Tholomyès in the mazes of the hill of the Pantheon, where so many adventurers twine and untwine, but in such a way as constantly to encounter him again. There is a way of avoiding which resembles seeking. In short, the eclogue took place.

Blachevelle, Listolier, and Fameuil formed a sort of group of which Tholomyès was the head. It was he who possessed the wit.

Tholomyès was the antique old student; he was rich; he had an income of four thousand francs; four thousand francs! a splendid scandal on Mount Sainte-Geneviève. Tholomyès was a fast man of thirty, and badly preserved. He was wrinkled and toothless, and he had the beginning of a bald spot, of which he himself said with sadness, the skull at thirty, the knee at forty. His digestion was mediocre, and he had been attacked by a watering in one eye. But in proportion as his youth disappeared, gayety was kindled; he replaced his teeth with buffooneries, his hair with mirth, his health with irony, his weeping eye laughed incessantly. He was dilapidated but still in flower. His youth, which was packing up for departure long before its time, beat a retreat in good order, bursting with laughter, and no one saw anything but fire. He had had a piece rejected at the Vaudeville. He made a few verses now and then. In addition to this he doubted everything to the last degree, which is a vast force in the eyes of the weak. Being thus ironical and bald, he was the leader. Iron is an English word. Is it possible that irony is derived from it?

One day Tholomyès took the three others aside, with the gesture of an oracle, and said to them:—

“Fantine, Dahlia, Zéphine, and Favourite have been teasing us for nearly a year to give them a surprise. We have promised them solemnly that we would. They are forever talking about it to us, to me in particular, just as the old women in Naples cry to Saint Januarius, ‘Faccia gialluta, fa o miracolo, Yellow face, perform thy miracle,’ so our beauties say to me incessantly, ‘Tholomyès, when will you bring forth your surprise?’ At the same time our parents keep writing to us. Pressure on both sides. The moment has arrived, it seems to me; let us discuss the question.”

Thereupon, Tholomyès lowered his voice and articulated something so mirthful, that a vast and enthusiastic grin broke out upon the four mouths simultaneously, and Blachevelle exclaimed, “That is an idea.”

A smoky tap-room presented itself; they entered, and the remainder of their confidential colloquy was lost in shadow.

The result of these shades was a dazzling pleasure party which took place on the following Sunday, the four young men inviting the four young girls.

[gloomth-and-wanderings]

A zoomable version, and another version of the same game, with slightly different art.

(I'm not a French speaker so I may get things wrong, and am happy for corrections, but what I can gather of the rules and the labels on the spaces are below for those who want to play!)

Rules from the first version of the game are transcribed on that site. The gist seems to be that you roll 2 dice to try to get from the first space to the 63rd, without overreaching it, and you can fall into hazards and goose spaces (hence the name goose game) along the way.

where the versions differ I've set it up like this: Version 1 text | Version 2 text

1: the Prison of the Bastille | Entrance of Liberty, or the Capture of the Bastille

2: reunion of the Three Estates

3: permission to hunt | permission to hunt on all property

4: creation of the National Guard

5. The Parlement of Paris (Goose Space-- these allow you to advance the number you rolled again; all of them are represented by geese dressed as Parlementarians in this game)

6. The Liberty Bridge (Bridge Space, advance to space 12) | The Bridge, or the Prince Lambesc at Tuileries

7. Donations from the Parisian ladies | first patriotic donation, by the artistic ladies

8. The Feudal rights abolished

9. The Parlement of Toulouse (Goose Space)

10. The tithe destroyed

11. Lettres de cachet removed | Abolition of lettres de cachet

12. Jews declared citizens under the law | Jews regarded as French, conforming to the law

13. Foreign owners of French property declared French | Foreigners who have bought national property regarded as French, conforming to the law

14. The Parlement of Grenoble (Goose Space)

15. Each distinguished soldier merits an honorable reward | France gives the Marshal's Baton to every soldier who has merited his homeland

16. The goods of the clergy claimed for the nation

17. Adieu to the corvee [unpaid labor for the landlord] | abolishing of the corvee

18. The Parlement of Bordeaux (Goose Space)

19. Aristocrats at the Caveau Cafe | Hotel, or the Caveau at the Palais Royal, main foyer for Motions (Hotel Space, lose a turn)

20. To Versailles, to Versailles | The Ladies of La Halle going to Versailles on 5 October 1789

21. Arrival of the King at Paris on 6 October 1789

22. The divided are equal | Abolition of birthright

23. The Parlement of Dijon (Goose Space)

24. Good salt priced at one sol a pound | Abolition of the Gabelle [salt tax]

25. No more dishonorable torture | Torture is no longer a dishonor on the families

26. The dice [?] or the silver merchants | The dice, or the banking systems

27. The Parlement of Rouen (Goose Square)

28. France divided into 83 Departments

29. Suppression of the Religious orders

30. Standardization of weights and measures | Standardization of weights and measures across the kingdom

31. au diable les Rats de cave [??? No idea] | The Well, or the refugees to foreign places (Well Space, where a player must wait for another player to land on the same spot to leave. The second player takes their place, etc.)

32. The Parlement of Aix (Goose Space)

33. Suppression of the coats-of-arms | Abolition of hereditary nobility and coats-of-arms

34. Incense offered only to the Eternal

35. Justice is free

36. The Parlement of Rennes (Goose Space)

37. Ah ça ira ça ira | Working on the Champ du Mars

38. Festival of the Federation, 14 July 1790

39. The Oriflamme (battle standard of the king) is given to the Federes (as in either people of the Federation or attendees of the festival) | The banner is given to the 83 departments by the city of Paris

40. Only the nation has the right to declare war

41. The Parlement of Pau (Goose Space)

42. The Chatelet | The Maze, or the Chatelet of Paris (Maze Space, return back to Space 30)

43. Bishop of gold, Cross of wood. (i.e. clerical hypocrisy) | The real pastor of the early church

44. the Infidels are protected under the aegis of the law | the Non-Catholics under the protection of the law

45. The Parlement of Metz (Goose Space)

46. Suppression of the Charges | Suppression of the Charges and Offices

47. Judges elected by the people | Judges chosen by the people's ballot

48. Distribution of grain across the kingdom | Free circulation of "bled" [?], all throughout the kingdom

49. Responsibility of the Ministers

50. The Parlement of Bésançon (Goose Space)

51. The National Flag

52. The Abbaye Prison | the Abbaye Prison, where we put the criminals who offend the nation (Prison Space, functions like the Well Space; a player must wait for another player to land on the same spot to leave. The second player takes their place, etc.)

53. Assignats | Assignats, or the Grand System

54. The Parlement of Douay (Goose Space)

55. Soldiers become active citizens [?] after 16 years of service

56. After 30 years of service they have the right to a pension

57. Churches for sale | Goods of the clergy for sale

58. Death of Foulon, Berlier, Flesselles etc. | Death of De Launay, Foulon, Bertier, etc. [Royal officials killed by Parisians] (Death Space; return to the beginning)

59. The Parlement of Nancy (Goose Space)

60. Arrest of the King at Varennes | Municipal officer's outfit

61. Justices of the Peace | Judge's outfit

62. The King returns to the Tuileries | Bureau of Impositions

63. National Assembly | National Assembly or the Palladium of Liberty

FRENCH GAME BOARD, 1791. ‘Game of the French Revolution,’ created in 1791. The first player to go from the seizure of the Bastille (step 1) to the Assemblee Nationale (step 63) is the winner. 

[akihitotakuma]

AKIHITO TAKUMA CV

1966 Born in Hitoyoshi, Kumamoto, Japan 1993 Completed the postgraduate course at Shiga University of Education (Painting Department) 1993 - 94 Studied at Circulo de Bellas Artes de Madrid (Spain) Lives and works in Tokyo & Kanagawa, Japan

Solo Exhibitions 2023 Lines of Flight - The battle is decided in an instant, but I seem to lose most of the time., CADANYURAKUCHO by Yoshiaki Inoue Gallery, Tokyo 2022 Lines of Flight - Color, Yoshiaki Inoue Gallery, Osaka 2021 Lines of Flight - skyscraper II, Yoshiaki Inoue Gallery, Osaka 2020 Akihito Takuma, Galerie Benjamin Eck, Munchen, Germany 2018 Lines of Flight - skyscraper, Yoshiaki Inoue Gallery, Osaka 2018 Akihito Takuma, Le Confort des Étranges, Toulouse, France 2017 Lines of Flight SA-KU-RA, Yoshiaki Inoue Gallery, Osaka 2017 Difference et repetition / Tableau en evolution, Gakeigimlet, Kyoto 2016 Difference et repetition / Tableau en evolution, Institut francais du Japon-kyusyu, Fukuoka 2016 Lines of Flight, Gakeigimlet, Tokyo 2016 Lines of Flight, Gakeigimlet, Kyoto 2015 Lines of Flight - Unexpected power, Yoshiaki Inoue Gallery, Osaka 2014 Lines of Flight, ponyhof artclub, Munchen, Germany 2014 Difference et repetition / Tableau en evolution, Gakeigimlet, Kyoto 2014 Difference et repetition / Tableau en evolution, Yoshiaki Inoue Gallery, Osaka 2014 Difference et repetition / Tableau en evolution, Institut francais du Japon-Kansai, Kyoto 2012 Lines of Flight, Gakeigimlet, Kyoto 2012 Lines of Flight, Akiyama Gallery, Tokyo 2010 Lines of Flight - to the Sahara, Kinokuniya Gallery, Tokyo 2009 Lines of Flight, Galerie Tokyo Humanite, Tokyo 2008 Lines of Flight, Cubic Gallery Iteza, Kyoto 2007 Lines of Flight, Shinanobashi Gallery, Osaka 2006 Lines of Flight, Shinanobashi Gallery, Osaka 2005 Lines of Flight, Shinanobashi Gallery, Osaka 2004 Lines of Flight, Shinanobashi Gallery, Osaka 2002 I until 1999 from 1990-to give it value in the daily life, Shinanobashi Gallery, Osaka 2001 I whom I don't know-Memory, Cubic Gallery Iteza, Kyoto 2000 To leave, Shinanobashi Gallery, Osaka 1999 Escape the border, Shinanobashi Gallery, Osaka 1998 Painting from Record of Action, Shinanobashi Gallery, Osaka 1998 Expressive Machine for Future, Cubic Gallery Iteza, Kyoto 1997 about Existence, Shinanobashi Gallery, Osaka 1996 It is connected, Shinanobashi Gallery, Osaka 1996 escape from the two clauses confrontation, Cubic Gallery Iteza, Kyoto 1994 Painting from Record of Action, Cubic Gallery Iteza, Kyoto 1992 Devenir, Cubic Gallery Iteza, Kyoto

Group Exhibitions 2024 OSTRANENIE - AKIHITO TAKUMA x KEDIMARI, BENJAMIN ECK PROJECTS, Munchen, Germany 2023 In Your City, CLEAR GALLERY TOKYO, Roppongi, Tokyo 2023 ART SG, Marina Bay Sands Expo and Convention Centre, Singapore 2022 Collection1, Iwaki City Art Museum, Fukushima 2022 TABI / TRIP / TRAVEL / JOURNEY, Hyogo Prefectural Museum of Art, Kobe 2022 ART FAIR TOKYO, Tokyo International Forum, Tokyo 2021 ART OSAKA, OSAKA CITY CENTRAL PUBLIC HALL, Osaka 2021 Grand Vernissage, GALERIE B\, Hamburg, Germany 2020 CADAN, TERADA B&C HALL, Tokyo 2020 CADAN x SETAN MEN’S - POP UP, ISETAN MEN'S, Tokyo 2020 NATSUKODACHI, Pierre Yves Caer Gallery, Paris 2020 Galeristes, Carreau du Temple Paris, Paris 2020 Show window, Ralph Lauren OMOTESANDO, Tokyo 2019 Andoche Praudel and Akihito Takuma - Les reves de la pluie -, Pierre Yves Caer Gallery, Paris 2019 Duenn x Akihito Takuma - Point x View -, Yoshiaki Inoue Gallery, Osaka 2019 Satoyama 2019 - Art Festival in between Nature and City, Okagami, Kawasaki 2019 ART FAIR TOKYO, Tokyo International Forum, Tokyo 2019 Art Osaka, HOTEL GRANVIA OSAKA, Osaka 2018 KIAF ART SEOUL, COEX HALL, Seoul, Korea 2017 Juan Zurita x Akihito Takuma, Galerie Benjamin Eck, Munchen, Germany 2017 Gengenten, Moritakaya, Iwaki 2017 Adventures on Surface - Apocalypse of Abstraction, Gallery Kounotori, Tokyo 2017 ART FAIR TOKYO, Tokyo International Forum, Tokyo 2017 ART in PARK HOTEL TOKYO, PARK HOTEL, Tokyo 2016 ART BUSAN, BEXCO, Busan, Korea 2016 ART FAIR ASIA FUKUOKA, HOTEL OKURA, Fukuoka 2016 ART in PARK HOTEL TOKYO, PARK HOTEL, Tokyo 2016 In Praise of Shadows, Japanese beauty, Yamagiwa, Tokyo 2015 LUISA KOCH & AKIHITO TAKUMA reflections, ponyhof artclub, Munchen, Germany 2015 STROKE, Praterinsel, Munchen, Germany 2015 ART BUSAN, BEXCO, Busan, Korea 2015 Link Link Art-3, Kakian, Tokyo 2014 Landscapes. Rural vs Urban, The Brick Lane Gallery, London, United Kingdom 2013 ART.FAIR, Staatenhaus am Rheinpark, Auenweg, Cologne, Germany 2013 The Gallery Shinanobashi Collection, Hyogo Prefectural Museum of Art, Kobe 2013 mujikobo contemporary × gimlet contemporary, mujikobo, Yokohama 2013 Link Link Art-2, Kakian, Tokyo 2013 Matsuda Art 3, Matsuda high school, Kanagawa 2012 KAMIWAZA, Gakeigimlet, Kyoto/Tokiori, Nagoya/HIGURE 17-15 cas,Tokyo 2012 Black Aesthetics 01 - Avantgarde and Realism, Gakeigimlet, Kyoto 2012 Link Link art, Kakian, Tokyo 2012 Gimlet Cross, Gakeigimlet, Kyoto 2012 Batta mon's batta mon, gallery ARTISLONG, Kyoto 2011 Mark Humphrey Gallery, Southampton, USA 2011 Hatsuden-Private power generation, Kakian, Tokyo 2010 ASIA and RICE, sori arts center of Jeolla Buk-do, Changheum, Korea 2010 Invitation to Our House, at Artist's home in Kanagawa 2009 Permanent Collection 2, Hyogo Prefectural Museum of Art, Kobe 2009 ADVENTURERS on SURFACE, exhibit Live & Moris Gallery, Tokyo 2007 Hyakka-Ryoran, Hyogo Prefectural Museum of Art, Kobe 2006 Commemoration of Masuo Ikeda art prize, Ginza Yokyo Hall, Tokyo 2005 The 10th Anniversary of Post- Earthquake Restoration- Hyogo International Competition of Painting, Hyogo Prefectural Museum of Art, Kobe 2005 Line of Artist, Ishida Taiseisya Hall, Kyoto 2004 Daily life and Not Daily life, Hira Museum, Shiga 2001 - 2005 Seed Project, Kyoto & Shiga 1997 Invitation to Our House, at Artist's home in Shiga 1994 Exhibition of current state of Kyushu art, The Kagoshima Municipal Museum of Art, Kagoshima 1992 Impact Art Festival, The Kyoto Municipal Museum of Art, Kyoto 1991 Kyoto Independent Exhibition, The Kyoto Municipal Museum of Art, Kyoto 1990 Two persons exhibition, Cubic Gallery Iteza, Kyoto

Awards 2014 Saatchi Online SHOWDOWN Finalist 2011 Saatchi Online SHOWDOWN Finalist 2005 The 10th Anniversary of Post-Earthquake Restoration- Hyogo International Competition of Painting, Second Prize 2005 20th Holbein Scholarship Exhibitioner

Public collections Hyogo Prefectural Museum of Art, Kobe Iwaki City Art Museum, Fukushima Color museum, Tokyo Ueshima collection, Tokyo Hirose collection, Hiroshima Maibara Shiga prefectural high school Suzuki Design & Build, Machida

Selected Bibliography 2021 Maria Abramenko, "Bottomless Darkness", Nasty magazine, 20 May 2021 Marie-Charlotte Burat, "A Fresh Perspective on Society in 'Lines of Flight'", Pen-online, 12 March 2020 Katsuya Ando, "Why did I buy Akihito Takuma's painting?", 12 Jan 2018 Atsuo Yamamoto, “From 'Painting from Record of Action' to 'Lines of Flight': the works of Akihito Takuma”, Lines of Flight 2004 - 2018 2017 Andrey V., Juan Zurita and Akihito Takuma On Show at Benjamin Eck, 16 November, Widewalls 2017 Akihito Takuma, "GP hall - Industrial Blue", Cover of LP jacket 2016 Yutaka Mikami, “Painting of Akihito Takuma", No.16 - The Bulletin of the faculty of Representational studies of Wako University 2016 Akihito Takuma, “A Study of Contemporary Art in Germany : Irony, Humor and Political Criticism", No.16 - The Bulletin of the faculty of Representational studies of Wako University 2015 Mitsuo Yoshikawa, ART OSAKA Leaflet 2014 Toshiya Ueno, Link-Link-Art2, Review, Document of MEGA project 2014 Michiaki Nanba, review, HAPS 2012 Hitoshi Dehara, “Freedom of Flight”, Akiyama Gallery Catalog 2012 Art square, 29 April, Kyoto Newspaper 2012 Chiemi Sano, Review, Arts Magazine”Collector” (November) 2011 Akihito Takuma, Saatchi Online Interviews SHOWDOWN’s Top Finalists 2011 Akihito Takuma, Lesson practice which took in contemporary paintings, Art Education Society of Japan, No.294  2010 Ren Fukuzumi, Review, artscape 2010 Takeshi Sugawara, “At the Dunes of Merzouga”, KINOKUNIYA Gallery Catalog 2009 Akihito Takuma, “momentary brightness”, Galerie Tokyo Humanite Catalog 2009 Akihito Takuma, “A study of the Relation Between Art Education and Postmodern Era”, Art Education Society of Japan, No.292  2008 Yutaka Mikami, “Gray light”, Galerie Iteza Catalog 2008 Toru Kawamura, Review, 6 September, Kyoto Newspaper 2007 Akihito Takuma, “Lines of Flight”, ACRYLART2007, p.61 2005 Ichiro Hariu, Jurors’ Comments, 10th Anniversary of Post- Earthquake Restoration- Hyogo International Competition of Painting Catalog 2005 Shigenobu Kimura, Jurors’ Comments, 10th Anniversary of Post- Earthquake Restoration- Hyogo International Competition of Painting Catalog 2005 Oh Kwang-su, Jurors’ Comments, 10th Anniversary of Post- Earthquake Restoration- Hyogo International Competition of Painting Catalog 2005 “Art scene”, Nichiyo-bijutsukan, NHK-TV, 23 January 2005 Unsigned, "Fantastic atmosphere", Asahi Newspaper, 5 February 2005 Unsigned, "Find a vast landscape", Kyoto Newspaper, 15 February 2005 Yutaka Hayami, ARTRAMBLE, vol.8, Hyogo Prefectural Museum of Art 1999 Shinichiro Ozaki, Review, SHIJO Gallery 1998 Minoru Otagaki, Review, 20 June, Kyoto Newspaper 1997 Eiji Yamamori, Review, 15 June, Asahi Newspaper 1997 Hideyuki Yamanaka, Review, 5 July, Kyoto Newspaper 1997 Unsigned, "Exhibition at our house", Chunichi Newspaper, 8 July 1996 Shinji Komoto, Review, SHIJO Gallery 1992 Yusuke Nakahara, Review, BBC-Biwako-TV 1991 Yoshiaki Inui, Review, BBC-Biwako-TV 1990 Akihito Takuma, Contemporary Art Messages '90, The International Art Center of Kyoto

[akihitotakumaworks]

Akihito Takuma CV

1966 Born in Hitoyoshi, Kumamoto, Japan 1993 Completed the postgraduate course at Shiga University of Education (Painting Department) 1993 - 94 Studied at Circulo de Bellas Artes de Madrid (Spain) Lives and works in Tokyo & Kanagawa, Japan

Solo Exhibitions 2023 Lines of Flight - The battle is decided in an instant, but I seem to lose most of the time., CADANYURAKUCHO by Yoshiaki Inoue Gallery, Tokyo 2022 Lines of Flight - Color, Yoshiaki Inoue Gallery, Osaka 2021 Lines of Flight - skyscraper II, Yoshiaki Inoue Gallery, Osaka 2020 Akihito Takuma, Galerie Benjamin Eck, Munchen, Germany 2018 Lines of Flight - skyscraper, Yoshiaki Inoue Gallery, Osaka 2018 Akihito Takuma, Le Confort des Étranges, Toulouse, France 2017 Lines of Flight SA-KU-RA, Yoshiaki Inoue Gallery, Osaka 2017 Difference et repetition / Tableau en evolution, Gakeigimlet, Kyoto 2016 Difference et repetition / Tableau en evolution, Institut francais du Japon-kyusyu, Fukuoka 2016 Lines of Flight, Gakeigimlet, Tokyo 2016 Lines of Flight, Gakeigimlet, Kyoto 2015 Lines of Flight - Unexpected power, Yoshiaki Inoue Gallery, Osaka 2014 Lines of Flight, ponyhof artclub, Munchen, Germany 2014 Difference et repetition / Tableau en evolution, Gakeigimlet, Kyoto 2014 Difference et repetition / Tableau en evolution, Yoshiaki Inoue Gallery, Osaka 2014 Difference et repetition / Tableau en evolution, Institut francais du Japon-Kansai, Kyoto 2012 Lines of Flight, Gakeigimlet, Kyoto 2012 Lines of Flight, Akiyama Gallery, Tokyo 2010 Lines of Flight - to the Sahara, Kinokuniya Gallery, Tokyo 2009 Lines of Flight, Galerie Tokyo Humanite, Tokyo 2008 Lines of Flight, Cubic Gallery Iteza, Kyoto 2007 Lines of Flight, Shinanobashi Gallery, Osaka 2006 Lines of Flight, Shinanobashi Gallery, Osaka 2005 Lines of Flight, Shinanobashi Gallery, Osaka 2004 Lines of Flight, Shinanobashi Gallery, Osaka 2002 I until 1999 from 1990-to give it value in the daily life, Shinanobashi Gallery, Osaka 2001 I whom I don't know-Memory, Cubic Gallery Iteza, Kyoto 2000 To leave, Shinanobashi Gallery, Osaka 1999 Escape the border, Shinanobashi Gallery, Osaka 1998 Painting from Record of Action, Shinanobashi Gallery, Osaka 1998 Expressive Machine for Future, Cubic Gallery Iteza, Kyoto 1997 about Existence, Shinanobashi Gallery, Osaka 1996 It is connected, Shinanobashi Gallery, Osaka 1996 escape from the two clauses confrontation, Cubic Gallery Iteza, Kyoto 1994 Painting from Record of Action, Cubic Gallery Iteza, Kyoto 1992 Devenir, Cubic Gallery Iteza, Kyoto

Group Exhibitions 2024 OSTRANENIE - AKIHITO TAKUMA x KEDIMARI, BENJAMIN ECK PROJECTS, Munchen, Germany 2023 In Your City, CLEAR GALLERY TOKYO, Roppongi, Tokyo 2023 ART SG, Marina Bay Sands Expo and Convention Centre, Singapore 2022 Collection1, Iwaki City Art Museum, Fukushima 2022 TABI / TRIP / TRAVEL / JOURNEY, Hyogo Prefectural Museum of Art, Kobe 2022 ART FAIR TOKYO, Tokyo International Forum, Tokyo 2021 ART OSAKA, OSAKA CITY CENTRAL PUBLIC HALL, Osaka 2021 Grand Vernissage, GALERIE B\, Hamburg, Germany 2020 CADAN, TERADA B&C HALL, Tokyo 2020 CADAN x SETAN MEN’S - POP UP, ISETAN MEN'S, Tokyo 2020 NATSUKODACHI, Pierre Yves Caer Gallery, Paris 2020 Galeristes, Carreau du Temple Paris, Paris 2020 Show window, Ralph Lauren OMOTESANDO, Tokyo 2019 Andoche Praudel and Akihito Takuma - Les reves de la pluie -, Pierre Yves Caer Gallery, Paris 2019 Duenn x Akihito Takuma - Point x View -, Yoshiaki Inoue Gallery, Osaka 2019 Satoyama 2019 - Art Festival in between Nature and City, Okagami, Kawasaki 2019 ART FAIR TOKYO, Tokyo International Forum, Tokyo 2019 Art Osaka, HOTEL GRANVIA OSAKA, Osaka 2018 KIAF ART SEOUL, COEX HALL, Seoul, Korea 2017 Juan Zurita x Akihito Takuma, Galerie Benjamin Eck, Munchen, Germany 2017 Gengenten, Moritakaya, Iwaki 2017 Adventures on Surface - Apocalypse of Abstraction, Gallery Kounotori, Tokyo 2017 ART FAIR TOKYO, Tokyo International Forum, Tokyo 2017 ART in PARK HOTEL TOKYO, PARK HOTEL, Tokyo 2016 ART BUSAN, BEXCO, Busan, Korea 2016 ART FAIR ASIA FUKUOKA, HOTEL OKURA, Fukuoka 2016 ART in PARK HOTEL TOKYO, PARK HOTEL, Tokyo 2016 In Praise of Shadows, Japanese beauty, Yamagiwa, Tokyo 2015 LUISA KOCH & AKIHITO TAKUMA reflections, ponyhof artclub, Munchen, Germany 2015 STROKE, Praterinsel, Munchen, Germany 2015 ART BUSAN, BEXCO, Busan, Korea 2015 Link Link Art-3, Kakian, Tokyo 2014 Landscapes. Rural vs Urban, The Brick Lane Gallery, London, United Kingdom 2013 ART.FAIR, Staatenhaus am Rheinpark, Auenweg, Cologne, Germany 2013 The Gallery Shinanobashi Collection, Hyogo Prefectural Museum of Art, Kobe 2013 mujikobo contemporary × gimlet contemporary, mujikobo, Yokohama 2013 Link Link Art-2, Kakian, Tokyo 2013 Matsuda Art 3, Matsuda high school, Kanagawa 2012 KAMIWAZA, Gakeigimlet, Kyoto/Tokiori, Nagoya/HIGURE 17-15 cas,Tokyo 2012 Black Aesthetics 01 - Avantgarde and Realism, Gakeigimlet, Kyoto 2012 Link Link art, Kakian, Tokyo 2012 Gimlet Cross, Gakeigimlet, Kyoto 2012 Batta mon's batta mon, gallery ARTISLONG, Kyoto 2011 Mark Humphrey Gallery, Southampton, USA 2011 Hatsuden-Private power generation, Kakian, Tokyo 2010 ASIA and RICE, sori arts center of Jeolla Buk-do, Changheum, Korea 2010 Invitation to Our House, at Artist's home in Kanagawa 2009 Permanent Collection 2, Hyogo Prefectural Museum of Art, Kobe 2009 ADVENTURERS on SURFACE, exhibit Live & Moris Gallery, Tokyo 2007 Hyakka-Ryoran, Hyogo Prefectural Museum of Art, Kobe 2006 Commemoration of Masuo Ikeda art prize, Ginza Yokyo Hall, Tokyo 2005 The 10th Anniversary of Post- Earthquake Restoration- Hyogo International Competition of Painting, Hyogo Prefectural Museum of Art, Kobe 2005 Line of Artist, Ishida Taiseisya Hall, Kyoto 2004 Daily life and Not Daily life, Hira Museum, Shiga 2001 - 2005 Seed Project, Kyoto & Shiga 1997 Invitation to Our House, at Artist's home in Shiga 1994 Exhibition of current state of Kyushu art, The Kagoshima Municipal Museum of Art, Kagoshima 1992 Impact Art Festival, The Kyoto Municipal Museum of Art, Kyoto 1991 Kyoto Independent Exhibition, The Kyoto Municipal Museum of Art, Kyoto 1990 Two persons exhibition, Cubic Gallery Iteza, Kyoto

Awards 2014 Saatchi Online SHOWDOWN Finalist 2011 Saatchi Online SHOWDOWN Finalist 2005 The 10th Anniversary of Post-Earthquake Restoration- Hyogo International Competition of Painting, Second Prize 2005 20th Holbein Scholarship Exhibitioner

Public collections Hyogo Prefectural Museum of Art, Kobe Iwaki City Art Museum, Fukushima Color museum, Tokyo Ueshima collection, Tokyo Hirose collection, Hiroshima Maibara Shiga prefectural high school Suzuki Design & Build, Machida

Selected Bibliography 2021 Maria Abramenko, "Bottomless Darkness", Nasty magazine, 20 May 2021 Marie-Charlotte Burat, "A Fresh Perspective on Society in 'Lines of Flight'", Pen-online, 12 March 2020 Katsuya Ando, "Why did I buy Akihito Takuma's painting?", 12 Jan 2018 Atsuo Yamamoto, “From 'Painting from Record of Action' to 'Lines of Flight': the works of Akihito Takuma”, Lines of Flight 2004 - 2018 2017 Andrey V., Juan Zurita and Akihito Takuma On Show at Benjamin Eck, 16 November, Widewalls 2017 Akihito Takuma, "GP hall - Industrial Blue", Cover of LP jacket 2016 Yutaka Mikami, “Painting of Akihito Takuma", No.16 - The Bulletin of the faculty of Representational studies of Wako University 2016 Akihito Takuma, “A Study of Contemporary Art in Germany : Irony, Humor and Political Criticism", No.16 - The Bulletin of the faculty of Representational studies of Wako University 2015 Mitsuo Yoshikawa, ART OSAKA Leaflet 2014 Toshiya Ueno, Link-Link-Art2, Review, Document of MEGA project 2014 Michiaki Nanba, review, HAPS 2012 Hitoshi Dehara, “Freedom of Flight”, Akiyama Gallery Catalog 2012 Art square, 29 April, Kyoto Newspaper 2012 Chiemi Sano, Review, Arts Magazine”Collector” (November) 2011 Akihito Takuma, Saatchi Online Interviews SHOWDOWN’s Top Finalists 2011 Akihito Takuma, Lesson practice which took in contemporary paintings, Art Education Society of Japan, No.294  2010 Ren Fukuzumi, Review, artscape 2010 Takeshi Sugawara, “At the Dunes of Merzouga”, KINOKUNIYA Gallery Catalog 2009 Akihito Takuma, “momentary brightness”, Galerie Tokyo Humanite Catalog 2009 Akihito Takuma, “A study of the Relation Between Art Education and Postmodern Era”, Art Education Society of Japan, No.292  2008 Yutaka Mikami, “Gray light”, Galerie Iteza Catalog 2008 Toru Kawamura, Review, 6 September, Kyoto Newspaper 2007 Akihito Takuma, “Lines of Flight”, ACRYLART2007, p.61 2005 Ichiro Hariu, Jurors’ Comments, 10th Anniversary of Post- Earthquake Restoration- Hyogo International Competition of Painting Catalog 2005 Shigenobu Kimura, Jurors’ Comments, 10th Anniversary of Post- Earthquake Restoration- Hyogo International Competition of Painting Catalog 2005 Oh Kwang-su, Jurors’ Comments, 10th Anniversary of Post- Earthquake Restoration- Hyogo International Competition of Painting Catalog 2005 “Art scene”, Nichiyo-bijutsukan, NHK-TV, 23 January 2005 Unsigned, "Fantastic atmosphere", Asahi Newspaper, 5 February 2005 Unsigned, "Find a vast landscape", Kyoto Newspaper, 15 February 2005 Yutaka Hayami, ARTRAMBLE, vol.8, Hyogo Prefectural Museum of Art 1999 Shinichiro Ozaki, Review, SHIJO Gallery 1998 Minoru Otagaki, Review, 20 June, Kyoto Newspaper 1997 Eiji Yamamori, Review, 15 June, Asahi Newspaper 1997 Hideyuki Yamanaka, Review, 5 July, Kyoto Newspaper 1997 Unsigned, "Exhibition at our house", Chunichi Newspaper, 8 July 1996 Shinji Komoto, Review, SHIJO Gallery 1992 Yusuke Nakahara, Review, BBC-Biwako-TV 1991 Yoshiaki Inui, Review, BBC-Biwako-TV 1990 Akihito Takuma, Contemporary Art Messages '90, The International Art Center of Kyoto

[lou-bonfightme]

"je vois que beaucoup de gens meurent / parce qu'ils estiment que la vie ne vaut pas la peine d'être vécue / j'en vois d'autres, qui se font paradoxalement tués pour des idées / pour des illusions, qui leurs donnent une raison de vivre / ce, qu'on appelle une raison de vivre est en même temps une excellente raison de mourir..."

AFFILIATION: His family (this definition does not exactly include his divine siblings) SPECIES: Demigod CURRENT AGE: 30 CAMP YEARS: 2006-2012 ABILITIES: Unearned confidence in most pursuits, can sleep in his make up and still have flawless skin, never has bedhead, can curse people so that their outfits never match (the colour palette is off), fluent in French, Italian, Spanish, and Latin. MAGICAL ITEMS: N/A

BIOGRAPHY: cw death

Toulouse had known from a young age that he was special. His parents used to parade him around to all their friends, boasting about how charming and polite he was. How handsome.

So, it only made sense when he discovered he was a son of the goddess of love, Aphrodite.

It was when his brother joined him a camp a year later--and was claimed by Apollo--that the first wrinkle in Lou's life happened. Though, it was easily smoothed over. Toulouse loved his brother, of course, and Apollo suited him just fine.

In his year at camp, there were two rivals that caught his eye. Both smart and beautiful. He wanted them both, but they hated one another. This didn't matter so much to Toulouse and he soon had them each wrapped around a finger.

And then, everything fell apart when he was killed in the final battle against Kronos.

Toulouse doesn't remember much about being dead. When he thinks about it hard enough, he can remember cold and emptiness and not much else. What he really remembers is waking up. The warmth. Hades and Belle's faces.

He works with them now, sad that they had to give up so much for him, humbled by it too. They still managed to have their children and live a mostly quiet life for demigods.

Until Hades' father showed up, demanding the life of their children.

Lou loves his children unconditionally and will go to the ends of the earth for them. Even if it means returning to the Underworld as he was supposed to all those years ago...