Sempé is easily one of my favorite cartoonists of all time. He can evoke space, light, inner experience, society, poignancy and whimsy all in one sweet and accessible image. (click for fullsize)
Grammar, by Sebald Beham. There are a lot of old illustrations depicting the classical liberal arts: there’s a whole slew of them here.
An (unattributed) image that manages to be delightful in half a dozen different ways. Courtesy group fashion-history blog La Mode Illustree.
Another set of comparisons between images with a common subject matter. This time: the biblical tableau of Judith and Holofernes! I love depictions of this scene. It’s a pleasant bit of evil to see a woman inflicting the violence for once.
Depictions are split between the actual beheading and the triumphal head-displaying; I favored the first one, but have included my favorite sassy head-trophy interpretation.
Tom Gauld again, aptly demonstrating (for Museums Journal) why I do narrative illustration instead of conceptual art.
