France riots ease as mayors call anti-violence rally
French mayors denounce "extreme violence" of the protests which swept the country for almost a week.
2023-07-03 16:48
Who is Gluck? The gender-non-conformist artist celebrated in today's Google Doodle
Head to Google’s homepage today and you’ll see its primary-coloured logo transformed into an elaborate floral display, accompanied by an imposing, androgynous face. This face belongs to the pioneering British artist known only as Gluck, who is celebrated both for their iconic portraits and picture frame designs, and for their bold rejection of gender norms. Google has used its Doodle design to pay tribute to the trailblazing visionary on what would have been their 128th birthday. So what do we know about Gluck? And why was their work so important? Sign up for our free Indy100 weekly newsletter Gluck was born Hannah Gluckstein in London on 13 August 1895 to a wealthy catering family. However, as they grew older, they rejected their full name – asking to be referred to simply as Gluck. They attended the prestigious St. Paul’s Girls’ School in Hammersmith before moving on to St John's Wood School of Art. During World War I, they moved to the village of Lamorna in Cornwall, which was known for its buzzing artists' community. There, Gluck began to defy gender norms and fashions, donning men’s clothes and sporting barbered hair. According to the Royal Academy of Art, they refused to identify with any artistic school or movement and so exhibited their work solely in “one-man shows”. They also wrote on the backs of publicity photos: “Please return in good condition to Gluck, no prefix, suffix or quotes.” And, as Google notes, when one art society identified Gluck as “Miss Gluck” on its letterhead, they immediately resigned. Still, despite what would have been eyebrow-raising practices at the time, Gluck earned popularity among their peers and the wider public. In 1932, Gluck designed and patented a three-tiered picture frame, which later became known as the Gluck frame. This traditionally matched the colour of the wall on which it hung, giving the illusion that the painting was part of the wall itself. But perhaps their most famous work was a double-portrait of Gluck and their lover Nesta Obermer, called ‘Medallion’. Gluck referred to the 1936 piece as the “YouWe” picture, which symbolised their spiritual, marital union with Obermer. They later explained that, on 23 June 1936, the couple had attended a production of Mozart’s Don Giovanni at Glyndebourne. Gluck felt that the intensity of the music fused them into one, inspiring the “YouWe” painting as a public declaration of love and commitment. “Now it is out,” they subsequently wrote to Obermer, “and to the rest of the Universe I call Beware! Beware! We are not to be trifled with.” Up until their relationship with Obermer, Gluck was better known for their still-lifes of flowers, which were inspired by arrangements created by their former lover, florist Constance Spry. After this affair ended and their relationship with Obermer blossomed in its place, Gluck’s subjects and style evolved, with the focus shifting to their alliance, which they saw as a true meeting of souls. In 1973, Gluck held their final exhibition, which debuted more than fifty paintings from across their career. As Google points out in the blurb to its Google tribute, Gluck refused to compromise artistically and personally, and their legacy continues to inspire artists to express themselves freely today. Have your say in our news democracy. Click the upvote icon at the top of the page to help raise this article through the indy100 rankings.
2023-08-13 17:22
Pain and terror felt by passengers before Boeing Max crashed can be considered, judge rules
A federal judge is ruling that families of passengers who died in the second crash of a Boeing 737 Max can seek damages for the pain and terror suffered by their relatives before the plane crashed in Ethiopia
2023-06-01 00:55
Sweltering temperatures bring misery to large portion of central U.S., setting some heat records
Sweltering temperatures are lingering in a large swath of the central U.S., causing misery from the Gulf of Mexico almost to the Great Lakes
2023-08-21 00:54
2 men who helped run popular pirating website Megaupload sentenced to prison in New Zealand
Two men who helped run the once wildly popular pirating website Megaupload have each been sentenced by a New Zealand court to more than two years in prison
2023-06-15 16:48
Brazilian entertainment company T4F shredded for not allowing Taylor Swift fans to bring water into venue during tragic concert
T4F, one of the largest live entertainment companies, in Latin America has released a statement in the wake of the tragic incident
2023-11-19 17:53
KSI vows to keep IShowSpeed score at 'zero' points in much-awaited Sidemen Charity Match during livestream with Kai Cenat
KSI said, 'I know Speed’s gonna try and score against me so, I’m gonna concede zero, that is my mission to make Speed score zero'
2023-09-08 19:26
Environmentalists sue to stop Utah potash mine that produces sought-after crop fertilizer
Environmentalists have filed a lawsuit to prevent the construction of a new potash mine they say would devastate a lake ecosystem in the drought-stricken western Utah desert
2023-08-02 06:27
Who is Michael Olson? NY financier who drugged and raped girl, 14, contacted other minors while out on bail
The accused allegedly targeted young Asian girls on Instagram, specifically those who expressed financial difficulties or posted about self-harm
2023-06-28 14:58
Climate talks chief urges oil producing states to slash emissions
The president of this years United Nations’ climate talks has urged the oil and gas industry to reach net zero greenhouse gas emissions by or before 2050 at a speech Thursday to oil producing states
2023-07-06 17:45
Ludwig unveils participants' names, date and time for World's Greatest Gamer event
Ludwig is organizing World's Greatest Gamer event where big names in the industry will take part
2023-09-02 17:47
How tall is Megan Thee Stallion? ‘Savage’ singer’s height inspired her stage name
Megan Thee Stallion's height is one of the most striking features about her and she owns it with pride
2023-08-19 16:47
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