‘Timeless Mucha: The Magic of Line' Review: Free-Flowing Style at the Phillips Collection
On Christmas Eve 1894, Alphonse Mucha (1860-1939), a Czech junior designer working alone in a Parisian print shop, received a rush order from actress Sarah Bernhardt for a poster advertising her title role in the Greek-set melodrama 'Gismonda.' Mucha—inspired, he said, by Bernhardt's flowing gestures, the 'magic of her movements . . . a spiral principle'—set to work. Fusing Eastern and Greco-Roman influences, Mucha's life-size decorative portrait-poster—illustrated with golden mosaics, sinuous arabesques, flora and fauna—idealized and eroticized Bernhardt as a neoclassical goddess and Byzantine icon.
Try Our AI Features
Explore what Daily8 AI can do for you:
Comments
No comments yet...
Related Articles
Chicago Tribune
2 days ago
- Chicago Tribune
Biblioracle: Hannah Pittard's novel ‘If You Love It, Let It Kill You' lives on its own terms
There is a whole, real-world saga/story behind Hannah Pittard's deeply entertaining new novel, 'If You Love It, Let It Kill You.' In 2023, Pittard published 'We Are Too Many,' an unconventional memoir jumping off from the moment Pittard found out her husband was having an affair (and leaving her) to be with her closest friend. I named 'We Are Too Many' the best book of 2023. In 2024, Pittard's ex-husband, Andrew Ewell, published a novel, 'Set for Life,' about a creative writing professor married to another professor who has an affair with one of his wife's closest friends, and sees the affair as a way to escape his dead-end job and the shadow of his much more successful novelist wife. Enter 'If You Love It, Let It Kill You' in which 'Hanna,' a writer and creative writing professor now cohabitating with Bruce and his 11-year-old daughter in the college town where her mother, father and sister have all moved, ostensibly to be near each other, even though this nearness is not always a good thing. Hanna finds out that her ex-husband is publishing a novel about the dissolution of their marriage which sounds a lot like 'Set for Life.' I mean this in the clearest possible terms. Possessing this knowledge does not, in any way, enhance one's enjoyment of 'If You Love It, Let It Kill You.' This is a novel that lives on its own terms, independent of the real-life circumstances of its author, Hannah Pittard. It is funny, searching, anarchic and ultimately somewhat unexpectedly and satisfyingly open-hearted, given that one of Hanna's chief problems is coming to grips with the power of her own emotions. The novel is structured through a series of titled sections, the opening of which introduces us to Hanna and her domestic situation, Bruce (the boyfriend and co-owner of the house they live in), the 11-year-old, and Hanna's various family members. Hanna's father is, on the one hand, a hoot, a charming eccentric who drops by for drinks on the porch and is frequently the source of some laugh-out-loud punchlines. On the other hand, he's obviously unreliable and a depressive who threatens to drag those in his vicinity down with him. We also have Hanna's students in her creative writing course who occasionally serve as a kind of Greek chorus commenting on Hanna's life or challenging her Gen X views of the world. One chapter is structured as a dialogue between Hanna and the student collective that is wonderfully reminiscent of Donald Barthelme's classic short story, 'The School.' This deadpan wit and social commentary shine throughout Hanna's story. The publisher's material is calling this autofiction, but it's more like a deconstruction of autofiction. Another chapter is a scene between Hanna and an injured cat she has rescued from her garage and refused to return to the original owner who has been looking for it. Somehow an imaginary conversation with a wounded, yet very perceptive cat becomes a turning point in the story. Hanna, like all of us, carries some wounds. She does not trust herself very much, so it is very hard to trust others. Bruce could not be a steadier hand, and yet Hanna may sabotage this clearly good thing because, well … because she's human. She has very purposefully decided not to give birth to a child and yet finds herself something very much like a mother to the 11-year-old. As Hanna retreats to and returns from a writer's colony, the novel comes to a satisfying resolution, but we shouldn't mistake resolution with conclusion. There is no conclusion to life, except the obvious one that eventually comes for us all. John Warner is the author of books including 'More Than Words: How to Think About Writing in the Age of AI.' You can find him at Book recommendations from the Biblioracle John Warner tells you what to read based on the last five books you've read. 1. 'The Constitution of the United States: A Primer for the People' by David P. Currie 2. 'Franklin Pierce' by Michael F. Holt 3. 'John F. Kennedy' by Alan Brinkley 4. 'Dodsworth' by Sinclair Lewis 5. 'N or M?' by Agatha ChristieI'm going to lean into Robert's obvious fondness for history, but also recommend a different bit of history than what's in this list, 'If Then: How the Simulmatics Corporation Invented the Future' by Jill Lepore 1. 'The End of Drum-Time' by Hanna Pylväinen 2. 'On Division' by Goldie Goldbloom 3. 'Hidden Valley Road' by Robert Kolker 4. 'City of Thieves' by David Benioff 5. 'Demon Copperhead' by Barbara KingsolverFor Judy, I'm recommending an interesting bit of speculative historical fiction, 'High Dive' by Jonathan Lee. 1. 'War and Peace' by Leo Tolstoy 2. 'Wise Blood' by Flannery O'Connor 3. 'The Life of Chuck' by Stephen King 4. 'My Friends' by Fredrik Backman 5. 'James' by Percival Everett'Godwin' by Joseph O'Neil braids together two storylines into a story that sneaks up on you with its emotional power. Get a reading from the Biblioracle Send a list of the last five books you've read and your hometown to biblioracle@
Tom's Guide
2 days ago
- Tom's Guide
I tested the Toniebox and Yoto Player for 2 weeks, and they helped my kids cut down their TV time
The Toniebox offers a lighter, simpler media player, unlocking the door for its many cutesy and beautifully rendered figurines, which are a highlight of this device. The box itself is very durable, bright, and has a satisfying squidginess to it, and even though its audio isn't quite stellar, it's a big hit for younger folk. The Yoto Player delivers a solid audio performance coupled with an adorable lo-fi screen. Its cards keep things simple and pack in a fair bit of media, making them easy to travel with. Its app also offers plenty of control and packs in heaps of free content, representing excellent value. As a busy dad of two, I'm always looking for ways to reduce my children's screen time, which is why kids' audioplayers like the Toniebox and Yoto Player seem like a good proposition. Devoid of a typical display, both allow kids to listen to songs and stories without needing to focus on a screen. They also give them the independence to choose what to play, so parents don't have to worry about YouTube's algorithm going off reservation or their kids turning into TV zombies after long sessions in charge of the remote. While they work in similar ways, the Toniebox and Yoto Player have some key differences, which we'll outline further on. And not only will you read my thoughts on the two devices, you'll also discover what my 6-year-old thinks of them. Plus, do they actually reduce screen time? Toniebox Yoto Player (3rd Gen) Ages 3+ 3-12+ Dimensions 120mm x 120mm x 120mm 110mm x 110mm x 105mm Weight 600g 678g Battery life 7 hours 24+ hours A Toniebox Starter Set is available from the Tonies website for $99.99, with a choice of six colours. Some come bundled with a licensed figure, such as Moana or Spider-Man. Tonies also sell bigger discounted bundles, which is great if you're looking to build your collection quickly. The Tonies figures themselves typically range from $9.99 to $19.99. The third-gen Yoto Player can be yours for $99.99 from the Yoto website and comes with a Welcome Card for overwriting with your own recorded audio. It only comes in a dual white and gray color, though jackets in varying shades are available for an additional $20 when bought together. There's a bit more variance in how much Yoto cards cost, with the cheapest cards starting from around $4 and rising to around $14.99 for more popular compendiums. The Toniebox is the slightly bigger box, which features a tactile, squidgy cube design with a plastic, magnetized top to help secure figurines, LED status square, and asymmetric rubber ears serving as the volume buttons. It's clearly built for some rough and tumble, which I tested immediately when I accidentally dropped it, emerging completely unscathed. You wouldn't want to drop the Yoto Player — its chunkier, all-plastic design feels more fragile. It's got a clean, retro alarm clock look to it, with orange dials on the top corners for volume and track selection, and a card slot on the top. Its key feature is its display, which doesn't play video but pixelated stills — seeing fan favorites like Elmo and Paddington brought to life in vibrant mosaic style is genuinely charming. On the rear is a wedge design for tilting and an integrated nightlight. The Toniebox integrates a minimalist control setup, perfect for smaller kids. Simply place a figurine on the top, and it'll start playing. You're supposed to tap the sides to skip a track or repeat the previous, though it requires a fairly firm tap to acknowledge your input. I tried teaching the technique to my daughter, and while it took a few goes, we eventually got the hang of it. You can also tilt the box to fast forward and rewind. The Yoto Player offers a greater level of control but needs more nuanced inputs. During playback with a card, you can click the dials to track forward or back and twist the left dial to control volume. With a spin of the right dial, you can bring up a track selector, represented onscreen by the card's track number and relevant icon. The power button on the side also doubles as a pause button. The Toniebox does a moderate job in the sound quality department — its single speaker has a comparable volume to the Yoto, but there's a slight muffling in the audio that dampens its crispness. Putting Moana's You're Welcome on, I also noticed a lack of oomph in the rap elements, and audiobooks, while offering decent clarity, do carry some tinniness in the vocals. The Yoto Player's dual speaker setup is the winner here. With the volume cranked up, clarity is excellent for such a diminutive box, and there's even a surprisingly decent bass response — just don't expect it to compete with your Bose. I stuck on Moana: The Songs, and its mid-range notes filled the room with crisp lucidity. Both players work similarly, involving a concealed NFC chip in a figurine or card. Once placed or inserted, the player can determine if the media tied to the chip needs to be downloaded, played from local memory, or streamed via Wi-Fi. With the Toniebox, an attractive prospect for kids is collecting the figurines, particularly the licensed models. Queen Elsa and Moana came with my sample pack, and both models represent excellent detail and quality and near-perfect representations of their big screen counterparts. A word of warning though — keep these figures safe, as if they're lost in a toy box or go walkabout, you won't be able to play that media again. The Yoto gets around this issue with its cards — once downloaded, the media syncs with your phone's app, so you can quickly zap over your kid's favourite story without having to rifle through your card library or control the device directly; handy while on car journeys, for example. Due to their size, neither system is particularly portable, and you'd argue that the Tonies figurines are trickier to haul around. Though the Yoto cards don't offer the aesthetic appeal of the Tonies, they're easier to lug around in a card wallet. There is an impressive array of over 200 Tonies available, including Disney's Encanto, Frozen, and Tangled as well as popular characters from Toy Story, Sesame Street, and Cocomelon. I can see kids wanting to build up a vast collection of them, so they can make for great stocking fillers or smaller gifts from relatives. One licensed figurine generally crams in between 30 and 60 minutes of audio. And while the Frozen figure features an abridged story, it would have been nice to pack in a few extra songs than the four included for $20. It's also worth pointing out that not all Tonies feature their film's original songs, instead sung by different vocalists. I was slightly disappointed this was the case, seeing as the company has gone to great lengths to ensure their figurines look authentic. Both the Moana and Frozen tracks feature alternate singers, though Encanto does carry the original vocals, so it's worth checking out product previews to hear what you're getting. That said, while it might cause some uncanny feelings in parents, having different vocals didn't perturb my daughter at all, and she was content playing through all of them. Yoto also carries popular favourites such as Frozen, Moana, and Peppa Pig. While their cards have fewer of the Disney brands, they have much more expansive audiobook selection, with Paddington, The Gruffalo, and the works of Julia Donaldson and Roald Dahl on their roster. The choice is staggering too, with over 1,200 storybooks, music albums, and compilations available. These cards might not be as exciting as the Tonies, but the range means they can suit younger and older kids. I also checked with Yoto HQ, and they confirmed that all their Disney range features the original vocalists on its licensed songs. Another difference is that while the Tonies generally feature a handful of songs plus a shortened story, the Yoto splits them up, selling one card with more songs and another packing in a longer story — both Encanto cards are $14.99. So really, it's a toss-up between the Tonies figurine with less content, and the Yoto card with more. As the Toniebox emphasizes user independence, there's no way to control playback via smartphone app, but you can check out Tonies for sale, review the Tonies you've registered, adjust volume limits and record your own audio. There's also a Free section that carries a decent selection of audiobook samples and free songs and books. The app is looks very clean and is very easily navigable. The Yoto app handily carries all of the media that's tied to your account, so you can operate it like a remote for your player. It also has a create studio feature and news section for product announcements. The standout feature is the Discover section, which has a host of sleep sounds, free podcasts, and exclusive radio stations, giving it a big boost to its value offering. The app itself can be a little trickier to navigate due to its many sections, but most won't have any issues. The Toniebox yields around 7 hours on a single charge. It relies on a bespoke charging base rather than USB-C, so you'll need to remember to pack that if you're on the road. The Yoto Player handily accepts USB-C charging and delivers over 24 hours of playback. Unsurprisingly, my six-year-old was immediately drawn to the Tonies. She loved the songs, figures, and design and squidgyness of the Toniebox. As stated before, when I questioned the use of alternate vocals, she didn't mind at all. And while it took a few goes to get the skipping tracks tap technique right, she enjoyed the tactile experience. She also liked the Yoto Player — albeit to a lesser extent — particularly its cute, pixelated display that she said was very colorful. At the age of six, however, she was more interested in the licensed content that she knew of, rather than giving new stuff a chance. We've been testing both for nearly two weeks, and she's only been too happy to slot in a card or figurine and have a big sing-off with Queen Elsa, Mirabel, and co. Importantly, getting her off the TV has felt less of a chore, and it's great that she's engaging so well with the licensed content. With all that said, in my daughter's view, the Toniebox emerges victorious. Both the Toniebox and Yoto Player have a lot to offer for kids, and their media libraries are extensive. Importantly, both represent a novel way for them to take charge of their media consumption and are much safer and appropriate than letting them loose on an iPad or YouTube. It can be all too easy for them to be hooked on screens these days, so having these devices around is beneficial to give their eyes a rest and get their imaginations flowing. Just be aware that investing in either device locks you into an ecosystem of having to buy more and more figurines and cards, and at around $10-20 a pop, costs can soon spiral. Younger kids will no doubt prefer the colorful Toniebox and its exciting range of gorgeous figurines. With that said, older kids, particularly preteens, will get a lot of enjoyment out of discovering newer books and free content with the Yoto Player. For its functions, superior audio performance, and longevity, the Yoto gets my vote, but there's no denying the Toniebox's vibrant appeal among smaller audiences, including my 6-year-old.
Eater
2 days ago
- Eater
The D.C. Restaurant Openings to Know This July
This is Eater's guide to all the new restaurants, bars, and cafes that have opened this month. If there's an opening in your neighborhood that we've missed, let us know at dc@ July 29 Downtown: Barbouzard – which means 'secret agent' in French – brings a lauded chef's longstanding recipes, bespoke music, and late-night aspirations to the busy corner of 17th and K Street NW on Tuesday, July 29. French American chef and partner Cedric Maupillier showcases his South of France education and upbringing across Barbouzard's plates, highlighting the elegance of the Riviera and the rest of the vast Mediterranean coast. The menu features grilled fish and seafood, plenty of vegetable dishes, seafood towers, and caviar (martinis), along with a short list of meats, steak-frites, and pasta. The 6,493-square-foot restaurant also houses a central DJ booth and stage for live piano, sax, guitar, and violin performances. Weekend hours extend until 1 a.m. 1700 K Street NW July 25 Gordon Ramsay's new Backyard burger. Gordon Ramsay Street Burger Penn Quarter: Celebrity chef and television personality Gordon Ramsay's burger chain lands stateside for the first time on Friday, July 25, on the lower level of his Street Pizza location on 7th Street. Street Burger's debut location in D.C. puts a twist on patties, serving 'American-style' smash burgers that you won't currently find at any of the nine U.K. locations. The five-ounce double smash patties comes in many forms, from the familiar In-N-Out style burger, called 'Next Level,' with caramelized onions, pickles, and a spicy aioli to a Hell's Kitchen-inspired burger with spicy tomato chutney, crispy onions, and jalapeños. There are also fried chicken sandwiches, vegan burgers made with harissa-spiced vegetables, buckets of chicken wings, $5 draft beers, and loaded fries on the new menu. 507 7th Street NW July 24 Rosslyn: Next-gen food hall Wonder opened its first Virginia location on Thursday, July 24, serving up dishes from iconic restaurants around the nation, like Brooklyn's Di Fara Pizza, Tejas Barbecue from Texas, and Marcus Samuelsson's Streetbird. Wonder recruits superstar chefs to lend their names and recipes, as well as co-develop exclusive concepts just for them, such as Greek-inspired Chios Taverna from celebrity chef Michael Symon in Rosslyn. The kitchen churns out dishes from 20 eateries in all, allowing diners to try an array of cuisines in the small dining area or delivered straight to their front door by Wonder drivers. The food hall touts a door-to-door delivery time of 30 minutes or less. 1771 N. Pierce St., Unit 100, Rosslyn, Virginia July 20 Georgetown: Yala Greek Ice Cream's founder Chrys Kefalas brought D.C. a unique taste of Rhodes — the Greek isle where his family is from — on Sunday, July 20 (National Ice Cream day). Relying on farm-fresh cream and premium ingredients sourced from the Mediterranean, opening flavors range from Greek classics like baklava and cherry studded with chocolate chunks to familiar American favorites like rocky road and cookies and cream. A strawberry vegan sorbet and several frozen Greek yogurt options are also available. Color-changing spoons are a whimsical touch in a bright blue-and-white Georgetown shop that speaks to Greece's flag. 3143 N Street NW Related The Inside Scoop on the Greek Ice Cream Shop Coming to Georgetown July 18 Dupont Circle: Selva started serving up Central and South American classics — from Peruvian chicken and continent-spanning ceviches, to playful takes on internationally beloved dishes like patatas bravas made with crispy bites of yuca — on Friday, July 18. Executive chef Giovanni Orellana is creating dishes inspired by his birthplace of El Salvador and his decades-long culinary career working at Peruvian, Italian, and Mexican restaurants. Mayflower Club owner Antonis Karagounis is behind the new restaurant, which is his first sit-down spot since opening Rewind Diner in 2018. The verdant green artwork and velvet furniture make the cozy restaurant – named after the Spanish word for 'jungle' – the perfect place to have a filling meal and ease into a night out, with plenty of tasting flights of liquors distilled across the Americas and the Mayflower Club on the floor below. 1223 Connecticut Avenue NW July 17 Old Town: Thompson Restaurants brought its Southern-styled brunch chain Milk & Honey to the heart of Old Town Alexandria on Thursday, July 17. The two-story space that formerly housed Thompson's Hen Quarter features two full-service bars, a large private dining room, and seating for up to 188. 801 King Street, Alexandria, Virginia Foggy Bottom: Taco Cat, an adorable, all-day taco shop from vet D.C. restaurateur Tim Ma, quietly sauntered into Western Market food hall in mid-July. An unapologetically fun menu loops in lots of global flavors into tacos, burritos, and tortas. Along with classic breakfast tacos on corn tortillas, the morning menu also includes the levanta muertos ('wake the dead') ceviche packed with shrimp, cucumbers, red onions, tomato dressing, hot sauce, avocado, and Tajín. For the ultimate wake-up call, there's an option to add a tequila shot for $4. Open 8 a.m. to 8 p.m. 2000 Pennsylvania Avenue NW July 14 Clarendon: Around since 2003, New York City's vegetable-loving cafe Westville debuts its first location outside of its Big Apple-area home base on Monday, July 14. Located at the Crossing Clarendon, Westville specializes in char-grilled turkey burgers, truffle fries, and 20-plus rotating market veggies like crispy Brussels sprouts and pesto mashed potatoes, plus veggie chili and carrot cake for lunch, dinner, and brunch. A full bar slings wines and beers from the DMV and home-made cocktails like a strawberry Aperol spritz and blood orange paloma. 2800 Clarendon Boulevard, Arlington, Virginia Westville's menu goes heavy on fresh vegetables. July 11 National Landing: D.C. hospitality brothers Ian and Eric Hilton (H2 Collective) opened all-day French brasserie Bar Colline on Friday, July 11. Located next to Amazon HQ2, Bar Colline is their massive metropolitan answer to the charming original (Cafe Colline), which debuted in 2020 in an Arlington suburb. H2's longtime chef Brendan L'Etoile imports its top-selling steak frites dunked in bearnaise, croque madame, and duck confit. A 50-foot wraparound bar slings spritzes, local beers, and wines, with daily happy hour that includes $6 red, white, and rosé pours from 3-6 p.m. 269 19th Court S., Arlington, Virginia Related A Supersized French Bistro Swings Open Near Amazon HQ2 Woodley Park: Ethiopian-owned Yours Cafe debuted in mid-July with coffee drinks made from beans roasted in-house, plus breakfast and brunch served all day daily (7 a.m. to 7 p.m.). Order wine, beer, and cocktails (naturally, a great espresso martini) starting at 11 a.m. 2619 Connecticut Avenue NW July 10 14th Street NW: The first D.C. location of unconventional food hall Wonder opened up just off U Street on Thursday, July 10, churning out dishes from celebrity chefs like Michael Symon, Marcus Samuelsson, Bobby Flay, Nancy Silverton, and José Andrés. Ordering from screens or the Wonder app, diners can order everything from a pizza from Brooklyn's famous Di Fara or a Samuelsson-certified fried chicken sandwich on one tab. Wonder's culinary team makes everything, from Mexican or barbecue to Greek pastries, on-site. The chef-lauded food hall will soon embark on a local expansion tear, with locations planned for the West End, College Park, Cleveland Park, Reston, Franconia, and Navy Yard. 1925 14th Street NW Union Market: Baltimore-born Crepe Crazy DMV brings its sweet and savory crepes down to D.C. with a new stall inside Union Market. 1309 5th Street NE July 1 Union Market: Shilling Canning Company's cult-favorite fried chicken finds a standalone home inside Union Market. Chef Reid Shilling's new fast-casual venture Fancy Ranch sources all foul from family-owned Amish farms in Indiana and Pennsylvania. The casual bar is serving up white or dark meat with a cornbread waffle slathered in maple butter and fun sides like aji verde potato salad, classic slaw, or slow-cooked beans. Make your chicken even fancier by adding on caviar and a glass of Champagne. Fancy Ranch's long-term pop-up residency lasts through September. 1309 5th Street NE H Street: Chef Tim Ma is at it again, this time with an all-you-can-eat sushi spot for H Street NE. Sushi Sato, located in the recently closed Bronze space, offers endless nigiri, rolls, and izakaya dishes for $55-$75 (with a two-hour time limit). A namesake 'Sato roll' showcases soft-shell crab, eel, and scallop dressed with a spicy sauce. Izakaya orders include everything from steak sandos to monkfish karaage. Ma is also behind the newly opened Lucky Danger in Penn Quarter. Eater DC All your essential food and restaurant intel delivered to you Email (required) Sign Up By submitting your email, you agree to our Terms and Privacy Notice . This site is protected by reCAPTCHA and the Google Privacy Policy and Terms of Service apply.
