Octavio Paz and Catrin Welz Stein

I always tend to associate artistic photos with literature. It is like small parts of me unite in order to create a bounded universe, a certain emotion that involves more of my senses, visual, audio-  they all reverberate. This time, Catrin Welz Stein's digital creations reminded me of Octavio Paz' poem, E"l Desconocido".
And because no translation can't do it justice, I let you hear the Spanish musicality and harmony of these verses. It doesn't even matter if you don't understand the lines, look at the pictures and feel the vibe and rhythm of the words. 

"La noche es verde, vasta y silenciosa.
La noche es morada y azul.
Es de fuego y es de agua.
La noche es de mármol negro y de humo.
En sus hombros nace un río que se curva,
una silenciosa cascada de plumas negras."

Octavio Paz

Marin Sorescu. Ne cunoastem.

Ne cunoaștem,
Ne-am întâlnit într-o zi
Pe pământ,
Eu mergeam pe o parte a lui
Tu pe cealaltă.
Tu erai așa și pe dincolo
O, erai ca toate femeile,
Uite că ți-am reținut
Chipul.Eu m-am emoționat
Și ți-am spus ceva cu mâna pe inimă,
Dar n-ai avut cum să m-auzi.
Pentru că între noi treceau întruna mașini
Și ape și mai ales munți,
Și tot globul.
M-ai privit în ochi
Dar ce să vezi?
În emisfera mea
Tocmai se făcuse noapte.
Ai întins mâna: ai dat de un nor.
Eu am cuprins de umeri o frunză.
Ne cunoastem   (Marin Sorescu)

Jacques Henri Lartigue, photographer

I discovered Jacques Henri Lartigue (1894-1986) work a few months ago and I was touched by the vibe and the emotions his photos captured. 
Though he was perceived as a successful photographer of his time, being highly appreciated for modern subjects and approach as automobile races, planes and Parisian fashion models, I sense his spirit trying to lock the profoundness of the soul behind the glamorous and superficial lifestyle.
I especially connect with the contrast between old and new in the pictures below.

The Penitent Magdalene by Tintoretto

I've been so obsessed with this incredible painting since I came across it. It is named The Penitent Magdalene, painted by Domenico Tintoretto around 1598.
I searched the web for explanations about it as it seems so controversial to me, though I couldn't find any detail behind its conception.
I wonder why.
This painting emanates such incredible erotic sensations, generated by the entire choice of colors -all of them are tones of gold and browns, matching the silky and soft skin of the saint and exacerbating the carnal impression. The shadows are rarely seen in religious paintings and here they create an effect of sensuality, together with the feminine golden hair curls and full lips. The look of Magdalene is mysterious, not revealing the penitence or other heavenly call, but rather intriguing. The crucified Christ is placed in an obscure manner and after looking at Magdalene's face, the viewer's look is captured by the wrapping cloth, with its woven texture that I associate with a snake skin, giving a deceiving illusion.
I am captivated by this painting. I wonder why Tintoretto chose such a non-religious approach - it seems very offensive for the period he lived in.

She was fascinated with words. Dean Knootz

"She was fascinated with words.To her, words were things of beauty, each like a magical powder or potion that could be combined with other words to create powerful spells."
Dean Knootz

The Temptations of Ego

I remember Dante's Inferno - I am not aware whether I only verbally dislike temptations or I just enjoy being tested.

Virtue, health and morals are a resistance wall made of many “no” bricks in front of decadent lures. I am Mary Magdalene and now that I found you, I left down my ointment jar – they don’t know the oil was used for healing my wounds and not for comforting you.