Art review: ‘The Census at Bethlehem’ by Pieter Bruegel the Elder (1566)

December 23, 2025

This article was originally a thread on social media, which is why it is formatted with lots of images and short responses.The text is about the image below that paragraph. Shall we take another look at a typical low countries winter painting?Today we’re checking out ‘The Census at Bethlehem’ by the amazing Pieter Bruegel the … More Art review: ‘The Census at Bethlehem’ by Pieter Bruegel the Elder (1566)

Art review: ‘Ice Skating in a village’ by Hendrick Avercamp (ca. 1610)

December 19, 2025

This article was originally a thread on social media, which is why it is formatted with lots of images and short responses.The text is about the image below that paragraph. Still no proper winter here, so let’s look at another old Dutch ice painting to get a little bit of badly needed winter atmosphere.Another one … More Art review: ‘Ice Skating in a village’ by Hendrick Avercamp (ca. 1610)

Book review: Land of thieves, by Janna Coomans (2025)

December 18, 2025

Most history books are about kings, politicians, wars and the rulers and shakers who shaped the world of our ancestors.Luckily these days there’s a lot more attention for what life was really like for the common people, the housewives, teachers, shopkeepers and soldiers.I’ve always been more interested in that side of history and I feel … More Book review: Land of thieves, by Janna Coomans (2025)

Art review: Bathing scene from the Hausbuch von Schloss Wolfegg (c. 1480)

December 12, 2025

This article was originally a thread on social media, which is why it is formatted with lots of images and short responses.The text is about the image below that paragraph. Look at those filthy medieval people who never bathed or washed and who thought bathing was dangerous and bad. Look at them… er… having a … More Art review: Bathing scene from the Hausbuch von Schloss Wolfegg (c. 1480)

Film review: Indiana Jones and the Dial of destiny (2023)

December 11, 2025

This article was originally a LIVE thread on social media, which is why it is formatted with lots of images and short responses.The text is about the image below that paragraph. LIVE film review! I’m going to watch ‘Indiana Jones and the Dial of destiny‘ and review it as I go along.Disclaimer: I am in … More Film review: Indiana Jones and the Dial of destiny (2023)

John Gabriël Stedman and his misunderstood distaste for bathing

December 7, 2025

Here’s an interesting example of how misunderstanding & not properly fact checking a text results in spreading misinformation that, again, makes it seem some people of the past were scared of bathing and filthy icky boys. I had researched this before but today someone who seems to be obsessed with European hygiene and who just … More John Gabriël Stedman and his misunderstood distaste for bathing

Art review: ‘Der lästige Kavalier’ by Berthold Woltze (1874)

December 6, 2025

This article was originally a thread on social media, which is why it is formatted with lots of images and short responses.The text is about the image below that paragraph. This is ‘Der lästige Kavalier’ (The troublesome cavalier/”gentleman”) painted by Berthold Woltze (1829–1896): It depicts a scene most women will recognise, some men just can’t … More Art review: ‘Der lästige Kavalier’ by Berthold Woltze (1874)