#slaviclore

[careful-knives]

I got tagged by @slaviclore (I'm sorry it took me so long!)

rules: post 4 pieces of art you like and make a poll so that people can vote for their favourite, then tag 4 friends to do the same.

I didn't really go for any theme here, just 4 I really liked for the atmosphere/aesthetics. I guess, if you squint, you can kinda see a common theme tho. Maybe.

I'm politely asking @googoogojob, @death-by-cuddles, @anacrowley and @ofmderapolag and also anyone else who sees this and thinks 'this looks fun'.

[alexkujawa]

This illustration is from my book 31 SUPERNATURAL FELINES, which is available now on KICKSTARTER! Help me get it printed and you'll get some sweet rewards in the process!

Please check it out. 🖤 I am so excited about making these books!

Kickstarter: https://www.kickstarter.com/projects/112573162/31-supernatural-felines-an-illustrated-folklore-book

[czajnik]

😱 I’ve been fooled

The podstakannik (Russian: подстака́нник, literally “thing under the glass”), or tea glass holder, is a holder with a handle, most commonly made of metal that holds a drinking glass (stakan). Their primary purpose is to be able to hold a very hot glass of tea, which is usually consumed right after it is brewed. Podstakanniks appeared in Russian tea culture in the late 18th century, when drinking tea became common in Russia. It is a traditional way of serving and drinking tea in Russia, Ukraine, Belarus, and other Slavic states.

Source for pictures - an etsy store.

[polish-art-tournament]

sculptures* round 1 poll 1

*and installations and some other stuff i didn't know where to put

Smok Wawelski (The Wawel Dragon) by Bolesław Chromy, 1969:

propaganda: This is a famous and beloved statue outside of Wawel Castle (pronounced Vavel) in Kraków. The story of Smok Wawelski goes that he'd been eating all the animals (and people?) in Kraków so the king ordered his sons to kill him, but obviously the dragon is very dangerous. The princes tricked him by filling animals with tar and leaving them out. He ate them and when he tried to breathe fire, his insides burned up. There is a second version that says a cobbler tricked him into eating a tar-filled sheep and the tar made him so thirsty he drank the Wisła (the Vistula, the river that runs through Kraków) until he burst.

Fun fact, those are not extra arms but rather extra heads. Also, you can text the dragon to ask him to breathe fire, and then he does. He gets thousands of texts a day.

about the artist: When I was a kid, I was sure this statue was the actual Smok Wawelski that had somehow carbonized over a thousand years, but alas no, a guy made it in 1969 out of bronze. Bronisław Chromy was an artist, a professor, and Dragon Mother. He passed away in 2017.

Pomnik Syreny (Monument of the Warsaw Mermaid) by Ludwika Nitschowa, 1939:

propaganda: The Warsaw Mermaid is the symbol of Warsaw, and her image is all over the city in various forms. She's a warrior and is depicted with a sword and shield. She lives in the Wisła River (the Vistula), which runs thru Warsaw. There are different variants of her legend, but they all have something to do with her involvement in the foundation of Warsaw and her eternal role in protecting the city.

There are several statues of Syrenka around Warsaw, but the one I picked was created by Ludwika Nitschowa in 1936. It is made of gunmetal, and it stands on the bank of the Wisła. The model for this statue was a Polish poetess named Krystyna Krahelska. Krahelska joined the Home Army during WWII and participated in the Warsaw Uprising. She was shot and killed while rescuing a wounded colleague. I think it's really special the way the myth of Syrenka played out like this -- she really did protect the city, like in the legend. Incidentally, this statue was one of the few pieces of art in Warsaw not destroyed by the war.

tldr: badass warrior mermaid, made by a badass woman, modeled on a badass woman. women!

about the artist: Ludwika Nitschowa is the creator several famous statues in Poland, including of Maria Skłodowska-Curie, Copernicus, and several of Fryderyk Chopin.

both statues were submitted by @slaviclore 🐉🧜‍♀️

[rabarbarzcukrem]

Thanks so much to @slaviclore for tagging me!

rules: post 4 pieces of art you like and make a poll so that people can vote for their favourite, then tag 4 friends to do the same

I wasn't really thinking of any particular theme when I started choosing the paintings, but then I realized that most of my favorites depict moments from the daily lives of 19th/20th century peasants, so I guess that's it.

(also, I've just noticed that 3 of them are from the same year. total coincidence)

Tagging: @ocipiala, @radio-sepia, @holi-holy, @niebowplucach :))

[jalshristovski]

Getting these posts one after the other is so silly and ironic to me

@slaviclore @i-am-a-fish

[slaviclore]

https://www.tumblr.com/slaviclore/764686309259460608/just-ran-into-one-of-those-simpsons-tap-the-sign if i had to guess it’s probably something about the current rise of people acting as though objectifying people especially for sex reasons is actually progressive slash “respectful and good” (like viewing all trans people or like say someone whose a specific ethnicity as sex objects/for your pleasure or entertainment) and not like really weird/gross to do. But I could be wrong! That’s just my guess

Thanks for that explanation, that actually makes sense. Yall ever just run into some part of the internet and it feels like the meme w the guy w the pizzas ?

[labradorduck]

Tags from @slaviclore

Leon Wyczółkowski - Gertruda Komorowska in the sleigh (1883)

[zarya-zaryanitsa]

Tagged by @windvexer

Rules: Tag 10 people you want to know better!

Relationship status: I have a long term partner. We’ll get married when we find the money and the energy to organize our ideal wedding. Might take a few more years honestly.

Favorite colour: Blue

Song stuck in head: Ferrari by James Hype and Miggy Dela Rosa

Last song I listened to: Queen of Disaster by Lana del Rey

Three favorite foods: Quiche with spinach and smoked pork belly. Salmon in lemon-butter sauce. Uszka in barszcz.

Last thing I googled: pictures of smoked pork belly because trying to translate boczek wędzony to English always feels a bit weird. I need reassurance people will be thinking of the right thing when I say it.

Dream trip: I want to go back to Istanbul, this time with my love.

Anything I want right now: For my makeup to take off itself.

Tagging: @drakonovisny @orisnitsa @vigilantsycamore @slaviclore @hare-beneath-pine @friend-crow if you guys feel like it

[polish-art-tournament]

sculptures round 2 poll 1

Smok Wawelski (The Wawel Dragon) by BRONISŁAW Chromy, 1969:

propaganda: This is a famous and beloved statue outside of Wawel Castle (pronounced Vavel) in Kraków. The story of Smok Wawelski goes that he'd been eating all the animals (and people?) in Kraków so the king ordered his sons to kill him, but obviously the dragon is very dangerous. The princes tricked him by filling animals with tar and leaving them out. He ate them and when he tried to breathe fire, his insides burned up. There is a second version that says a cobbler tricked him into eating a tar-filled sheep and the tar made him so thirsty he drank the Wisła (the Vistula, the river that runs through Kraków) until he burst.

Fun fact, those are not extra arms but rather extra heads. Also, you can text the dragon to ask him to breathe fire, and then he does. He gets thousands of texts a day.

about the artist: When I was a kid, I was sure this statue was the actual Smok Wawelski that had somehow carbonized over a thousand years, but alas no, a guy made it in 1969 out of bronze. Bronisław Chromy was an artist, a professor, and Dragon Mother. He passed away in 2017.

submitted by @slaviclore

Sailor monument by Ryszard Chachulski, 1980 (Grunwald Square in Szczecin):

propaganda: Every december he is dressed as santa claus! [photo link]

[theophan-o]

@slaviclore, it is a Church Slavic Prologue (Church Slavic прологъ, Greek συναξάριον), a collection of short hagiographic texts devoted to various saints, known both in the South Slavic and Eastern Slavic traditions. This one is from the 16th century. I don't know the place of its origin, but for a long time it belonged to the Trinity Lavra of St. Sergius (near Moscow).

Charming little dragon on a metal decorative element located in the center of the leather cover of some Eastern Slavic manuscript from the 16th century...

@wanderer-on-the-steppe, I have been looking for some nice dragon for you and found this!

Here, the first, illuminated page of the same manuscript. Unfortunately, without any dragon. Geometrical-floral elements only...

[polish-art-tournament]

digital art round 1 poll 15

tap to view full images

Chort & babushka by Jakub Różalski, 2019:

propaganda: Don't mess with granny!

If I only could... by Jakub Różalski, 2018:

propaganda: The (gay) yearning, makes me yearn too.

propaganda: From Różalski's DA: "Exactly at this point, Marysia decided who she wants to be when she grows up!" Whenever I see this posted somewhere, there's usually someone commenting "but which one is Marysia?" The longing for the other world is so universal, i think especially for young women. Also just such a cool piece

about the artist: I see people refer to him as "Mr. Werewolf" probably because werewolves feature prominently in his work, but idk if he uses that name for himself. He's a prolific artist, lots of his stuff I've seen get a lot of attention online/go viral. His art is atmospheric, with speculative elements including supernatural characters or robots/machines. Every piece has a story to tell and stimulates the imagination.

submitted by @slaviclore

[jeza-jezaro]

@slaviclore yep, I'd go check out the purring cat 😅 thanks

Folklore cats. Slavic folklore: Baiyun cat - Кот Баюн

Far away, beyond three-ninth kingdom, near Smorodina river lives a large cat chained to a post. Some believe this cat guards the passage over the river to the afterlife and guides dead souls to the Kalinovy bridge. Yet, should someone still living seek the passage, Baiyun cat will lure them with his purring songs and many stories. His name means ‘tale-teller, lullaby cat’ after all. His lovely voice can be heard three versts away, the traveler will inevitably fall asleep by the time they reach the post and then… Baiyun lets out his claws and teeth, and afterwards little is heard of the hero who came unprepared. As the folk kept telling stories of Baiyun, some have claimed he later became a companion to Baba Yaga, as no-one would be disrespectful enough to call Baiyun her pet. He might be seeking an occasional dish of sour cream or a spot by the fire during the cold winter - for a reasonable price, of course. Oh, Baiyun is very reasonable, and like all ‘nechist’ keeps his word. If a hero succeeds at defeating Baiyun, the cat will be able to offer great knowledge and help in many difficult tasks that all heroes seem to have. 

[polish-art-tournament]

paintings* round 1 poll 96

Chopin's last chord by Józef Męcina-Krzesz, before 1934:

propaganda: Chopin lulls Death by playing the piano, immaculate vibes, one for the "death is a patient friend" motif

submitted by @slaviclore

An artist's death - the last friend by Zygmunt Andrychiewicz, 1901:

propaganda: "death is a kind and patient friend" is a great artistic motif.

about the artist: One of those lucky Polish artists who got to see the dissolution of partitions after WWI but died before the next part.

submitted by @slaviclore

[polish-art-tournament]

photography round 2 poll 13

A blacksmith by Maciek Przeklasa (2021?):

propaganda: The badassery of the subject goes a long way. He looks so comfortable, like he just asked an old friend for a light. Also, consider this. Too much light or contrast would blur the heat gradient on the horseshoe and/or the details of the subject's face, but both are so clear. The sparks on the tip of the cigarette give you some dynamics, and the background is atmospheric but subtle. Just a really great portrait.

about the artist: he is on ig and fb, and he appears to be hire-able for weddings

submitted by @slaviclore

Untitled from the Backstage magic series by Piotr Leczkowski, 2019:

submitted description: ballerinas backstage, in costume

[polish-art-tournament]

photography round 2 poll 11

Dispute by Jacek Stankiewicz, 2023:

propaganda: This photo won the People's Choice and Junior awards at last year's Nikon Comedy Wildlife photo contest. Here's what Stankiewicz said about his photo: “I caught this scene while watching birds in the Bialowieza Forest. Young greenfinch was still fed by parents. However, from time to time birds looked like having argument. My friends interpret this scene in two ways. 1 A young naughty kid is arguing with a parent. 2. One kid is reporting to the parent that its brother did something wrong: look he has broken the glass in the window.”

submitted by @slaviclore

A man feeding swans in the snow by Marcin Ryczek, 2013:

propaganda: The composition is just so very striking, its simple in the idea but wow it works it. It looks almost unnatural in it.

propaganda: This was taken in Kraków. You can look up Ryczek's own perspective on it on his web site, where he likens it to the Yin Yang symbol. When I first saw it, I felt like it was two worlds spilling into each other, and therefore themselves falling apart in a way, and it felt chaotic to me. Beautiful composition.

about the artist: He has a studio: https://www.imagenationparis.com/marcinryczek

submitted by @slaviclore (among others)