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Posted by: Lara Szypszak
Settle in for a good strong cuppa because December 15 is International Tea Day! Tea drinking began thousands of years ago in China and made its way west to Europe through Dutch trade in the sixteenth century. By the nineteenth century, the East India Company had a monopoly on the tea trade between China and …
Posted in: Drawings, News & Events, Photographs
Posted by: Lara Szypszak
We have previously shared some of the fantastic Japanese woodblock prints that grace our collections. They are both elegant and delicate, as well as inspirational. We don’t need to go far to see how Japanese printmaking inspired the work of one particular American artist who studied the technique and developed a unique style of her …
Posted in: Prints, Women's History
Posted by: Lara Szypszak
September 22 is World Car Free Day, an annual event when participants around the world set aside their car keys and find alternative methods for getting to work. This annual observance goes back to the 1970s, and gained more ground in the 1990s to coincide with the European Union’s “In Town Without My Car” campaign. …
Posted in: News & Events, Photographs
Posted by: Lara Szypszak
We recently posted about the newly digitized photographs from the American National Red Cross Collection, sharing an overview and selections from this vibrant and massive resource. I took a personal interest in these newly uploaded images as they represent a great addition to our accessible corpus of images of Poland. Not only does this collection …
Posted in: Photographs, World War I
Posted by: Lara Szypszak
The following is a joint post by Lara Szypszak and Julie Stoner, Reference Technicians, Prints and Photographs Division. There are many ways to run across fantastic images in Prints and Photographs Division holdings, often in the course of carrying out day-to-day tasks. When digital technology came along in the 1990s, the Prints and Photographs Division …
Posted in: Photographs
Posted by: Lara Szypszak
Since today, Flag Day, is dedicated to our grand old flag, it seems a perfect time to share eye-catching images from our collections that feature the nation’s Old Glory. You might not always see the colors red, white, and blue, but you’ll undoubtedly recognize the stars and stripes! I was surprised to come across many …
Posted in: Photographs
Posted by: Lara Szypszak
On a recent trip to Japan, I was on a tour bus from Nikko to Tokyo. At one point, the driver suddenly lowered the overhead television screens and the tour guide began to narrate the final match of the March Sumo Wrestling Tournament taking place in Osaka. She explained the intricacies of Shinto traditions that …
Posted in: Photographs, Prints
Posted by: Lara Szypszak
Welcome to May–a month of sunshine, colorful blooms, and excitement for the summer! When the first of the month, May Day, rolls around, I think of flowers, ribbon poles, and a Renaissance fair vibe. As fortune would have it, I found these ideas encapsulated in a single photograph, below. As I continued browsing the Prints …
Posted in: Photographs
Posted by: Lara Szypszak
I find one of the remarkable things about portraiture is the ability to observe individuals just like us in a time so different. A sparkle in the eyes or tilt of the head can feel so familiar. Whether it be the portrait of a family member or of someone with a common cultural heritage, the …
Posted in: African American History, News & Events, Photographs