Belle Époque

Alphonse Mucha: The Times of the Day 1899
Morning Awakening, Brightness of Day, Evening Contemplation, Night's Rest

Alphonse Mucha: The Seasons 1896
Spring, Summer, Autumn, Winter

The Belle Époque or La Belle Époque was a period of French and Western history. It is conventionally dated from the end of the Franco-Prussian War in 1871 to the outbreak of World War I in 1914 (Wikipedia)

My favorite artists are Alphonse Mucha, Gustav Klimt, Henri Marie Raymond de Toulouse-Lautrec-Monfa though his art movement is post-impressionism and J. C. Leyendecker.  Actually, there are so many great artists in this era.  But what is really imprinted within the depths of my soul is Mucha.  I really have fallen in love with his works.

Alfons Maria Mucha 24 July 1860 – 14 July 1939, known internationally as Alphonse Mucha, was a Czech painter, illustrator, and graphic artist, living in Paris during the Art Nouveau period, best known for his distinctly stylized and decorative theatrical posters, particularly those of Sarah Bernhardt. He produced illustrations, advertisements, decorative panels, and designs, which became among the best-known images of the period  (Wikipedia)

I have that sense of taste of always wanting these posters/ photos, I didn't know back then that it is an era of The Belle Époque.  I started collecting these.  And I just couldn't stop staring at it.  Over the years I have been collecting them for my satisfaction.  I couldn’t get enough of it.  Belle Époque and Art Nouveau are my favorite period.  Perhaps I am really displaced in time.

I wanted to share them with everyone.  I love it.  Don't ask me why.  Maybe I lived during those times...

Alphonse Mucha: Cycles Perfecta 1902

Alphonse Mucha: Monaco Monte Carlo 1897 

 

Alphonse Mucha: Benedictine 1898

Le Globe Celeste, Paris, 1900. 

An icon of the Exposition Universelle of 1900 in Paris, similar to the Eiffel Tower. 

It was constructed in the shape of a large globe and stood next to the Eiffel Tower. 

It was 'catered for armchair space-travelers: spectators leaned back in easy chairs 

while panoramas depicting the solar system were rolled past

Les Prévoyants de l'Avenir was a french pension fund.
This poster was created for the 10 millionth members party
celebration on 13 August 1893

Louis Theophile: Parfumerie Violet 1904 

Théophile Steinlen's 1896 poster advertising a tour to other cities ("coming soon")
of Le Chat Noir's troupe of cabaret entertainers

Alphonse Mucha:  Dance 1898

Henri Privat-Livemont: Manufacture Royale Corset Bruxelles 1897

Les Prévoyants de l'Avenir 1893 Grande Fête 

Alphonse Mucha:  Fruit 1897

Alphonse Mucha: Zodiac 1896
'Zodiac' was Mucha's first work under his contract with the printer Champenois
and was originally designed as an in-house calendar for the company.
 In this composition, Mucha incorporated twelve zodiac signs in the halo-like disk
behind the woman's head, one of Mucha's customary motifs

Alphonse Mucha: 1896

Alphonse Mucha: 1902

Alphonse Mucha: Gismonda 1894

Alphonse Mucha: Job 1896 

Alphonse Mucha:  Luchon 1895

Alphonse Mucha: 
Chandon Cremant Imperial 1899
Moet and Chandon White Star 1899

                   

Alphonse Mucha: 
Nestle's Food for Infants 1897

Alphonse Mucha:  Biscuits Champagne Lefèvre Utile 1896

Alphonse Mucha:  Lance parfum Rodo 1896

J. C. Leyendecker:  

The Century. August 1896

Alphonse Mucha:  Topaz 1900

ROMANTICISM... QUOTES TO LIVE BY...

These are the most beautiful quotes that I fell in love with. I just want to make a compilation, and share these to the world. Some are mine, but the rest are copied. Tell me, what is your favorite line, and tell me if you have something in mind.

Disclaimer: No copyright infringement.  Credits to the owner

Here it goes...

"No matter what has happened. No matter what you’ve done. No matter what you will do. I will always love you. I swear it.”

— Defiance by C.J. Redwine

“I wanted to tell you that wherever I am, whatever happens, I’ll always think of you, and the time we spent together, as my happiest time. I’d do it all over again, if I had the choice. No regrets.”

— Boundless by Cynthia Hand

“And in her smile I see something more beautiful than the stars.”

— Across the Universe by Beth Revis

“It’s one thing to fall in love. It’s another to feel someone else fall in love with you, and to feel a responsibility toward that love.”

— Every Day by David Levithan

“I love you the way a drowning man loves air. And it would destroy me to have you just a little.”

— The Crown of Embers by Rae Carson

I’m in love with you, and I’m not in the business of denying myself the simple pleasure of saying true things. I’m in love with you, and I know that love is just a shout into the void, and that oblivion is inevitable, and that we’re all doomed and that there will come a day when all our labor has been returned to dust, and I know the sun will swallow the only earth we’ll ever have, and I am in love with you.”

— The Fault in Our Stars by John Green

I never loved you any more than I do, right this second. And I’ll never love you any less than I do, right this second.”

— Beautiful Creatures by Kami Garcia, Margaret Stohl

Sometimes I can’t see myself when I’m with you. I can only just see you.”

— Tiger Lily by Jodi Lynn Anderson

"I am catastrophically in love with you.”

— Clockwork Princess by Cassandra Clare

I knew the second I met you that there was something about you I needed. Turns out it wasn’t something about you at all. It was just you.”

— Beautiful Disaster by Jamie McGuire

“I love you. Remember. They cannot take it”

— Delirium by Lauren Oliver

I want everyone to meet you. You’re my favorite person of all time.”

—Eleanor and Park by Rainbow Rowell

If my love were an ocean, there would be no more land. If my love were a desert, you would see only sand. If my love were a star–late at night, only light. And if my love could grow wings, I’d be soaring in flight.”

— Thirteen Reasons Why by Jay Asher

There is never a time or place for true love. It happens accidentally, in a heartbeat, in a single flashing, throbbing moment.”

— The Truth About Forever by Sarah Dessen

"I don’t care how hard being together is, nothing is worse than being apart.”

—Starcrossed by Josephine Angelini

I want to be the friend you fall hopelessly in love with. The one you take into your arms and into your bed and into the private world you keep trapped in your head. I want to be that kind of friend. The one who will memorize the things you say as well as the shape of your lips when you say them. I want to know every curve, every freckle, every shiver of your body. I want to know where to touch you, I want to know how to touch you. I want to know convince you to design a smile just for me. Yes, I do want to be your friend. I want to be your best friend in the entire world.”

— Unravel Me by Tahereh Mafi

But you’ve slipped under my skin, invaded my blood and seized my heart.”

— Poison Study by Maria V. Snyder

And I’ve realized that the Beatles got it wrong. Love isn’t all we need—love is all there is.”

— Second Chance Summer by Morgan Matson

Love lets you find those hidden places in another person, even the ones they didn’t know were there, even the ones they wouldn’t have thought to call beautiful themselves.”

— Wild Awake by Hilary T. Smith

No matter where I went, I always knew my way back to you. You are my compass star.”

— For Darkness Shows the Stars by Diana Peterfreund

BROKEN... Again... part 1

I wanted to tell you that you have broken my soul again. I don't really know why do we have to part. I messed up, fucked up the good relationship. I wanted to leave,  but I couldn't.  And then I must have my freedom.  And got it...

We agreed that we should set each other free. I was hurt with what you did, but I was being stubborn because the feeling of you neglected me. And so I reached to the boiling point to say hurtful words, I exploded! I couldn't take it back.  I said I don't love you anymore, I'm bored, and I want my freedom back. And damn just like so, I got what I wanted.

I felt so free for a second,  but it dawned to me that you were gone.  I wanted to take it back, go back, but I was furious of what you did that very night. Pride kept me going on. I realized that maybe we have to part ways. 

I love you, but you have to go...

I lost my home, my love, my job, and my life... 

XLIII

43 years of existence in this planet is so much to be grateful for.  There were times that I felt like giving up, but then again as I have seen amongst my friends, life itself should be lived, love, and nourish.  If I compare what am I encountering  because of my problems and tribulations, these are nothing.  I saw my close friend’s fathers passed away, they were so much close, I don’t think I can handle that pain…  I saw some friends who were indubitably sick, and a very close friend of mine shocked me with the news that she had cancer! (Thank God she’s cured!) I couldn’t imagine I can handle such pain!   Apart from that, a day before my birthday, the mother of my aunt’s closest friend passed… And on the same date of my birthday, a very close relative passed.

So you see, who am I to complain about my life.  My problem is a miniscule of what they were experiencing right now.  And if I were in their shoes, God forbid, I couldn’t assume I can bear the loss of a love one. 

You see my point is, every single thing that happens in our lives was made by the will of the universe.  Because everything happens for a reason, and whatever reason is that, is UNKNOWN.  I have to remind myself everyday that I should be grateful for my life, and the lives of my beloved-ones.  We may not be rich, but we are still healthy and breathing. 

Life is a constant change.   You may be in deep shit right now, but don’t worry you will be out in time.   It is just a cycle that you have to hold on to your will to survive such surge.  Numerous people are experiencing sorrow, heartbreaks; pain and misery right now, don’t fret because that too shall pass.

At the moment, I have to go on surviving, living, be worthy, happy, and most importantly, be grateful!

Thank you for being a part of my existence.  I love you.

Angel