20th Century - Tumblr Posts

The North Sea in stormy weather (1909) by Laurits Tuxen. Skagens Museum.

View over the harbour (1929) by Elfriede Lohse-Wächtler. Private collection, Hamburg.

Portrait of Estonian poet Marie Under, partner of the author (1904) by Ants Laikmaa (born Hans Laipman).

Portrait of Estonian poet Marie Under by Ants Laikmaa (1904). Art Museum of Estonia.

Friedrich Nietzsche (1906) by Edvard Munch. Thiel Gallery.

Portrait of the author Thomas Hardy (1923) by Reginald Grenville Eves. National Portrait Gallery.

Portrait of Eugen Schäfer by Ants Laikmaa (1906). Art Museum of Estonia.

Reclining nude (c. 1919) by Nicolai Fechin. Private collection.

Portrait of Helen Beatrice Myfanwy Hughes, daughter of Billy Hughes, Prime-Minister of Australia (1931) by Philip de László. Private collection.

Woman with Animals (La dame aux bêtes) (1914) by Albert Gleizes. Peggy Guggenheim Collection.

Dante and Beatrice (detail), by Italian painter Salvatore Postiglione (1906).

‘bal blanc’ - joseph marius jean avy (1903)

Dante and Beatrice (detail), by Italian painter Salvatore Postiglione (1906).

The story behind attributing colours to genders

Originally, the colour pink was masculine. Yes, shocked, aren't you? During the 18th century, European armies, including the British, used red as the primary color for their uniforms. Red was chosen because it was a strong, distinctive color that could be easily spotted on the battlefield. These red tunics were often made from a type of dye that wasn't very colorfast, meaning they would fade over time and with repeated washings. As a result, after numerous washings and exposure to the elements, the red dye in these soldier tunics would often fade to a lighter shade, including pink. These faded red uniforms were still worn by soldiers, and it became a symbol of their toughness and experience in battle. This association with strength and masculinity contributed to the idea that pink was a color of masculinity.

In the late 19th and early 20th centuries, the concept of gendered colors was not as firmly established as it is today. In fact, some fashion experts during this time period suggested that pink was a more suitable color for boys, as it was seen as a stronger and more vibrant shade, while blue was considered a softer and more delicate color and therefore more appropriate for girls.

Earlier, newborns were clothed in white, clothes often worn before by other babies as money was short. Eventually, when people stopped buying these clothes, manufacturers turned to advertising and started attributing these colours to genders because people would have to buy mew clothes every time a baby was born because what are the chances that a girl would be born after another girl? Pretty low.

The shift in perception began in the mid-20th century, and by the 1940s, advertising and marketing played a significant role in shaping the color associations we know today. Advertisers and manufacturers started promoting pink as a symbol of femininity, often using it in products and clothing for girls. This marketing strategy eventually solidified the modern perception of pink as a feminine color and blue as a masculine one.

Punk à Paris, 1977.

Photos prises au Gibus et au Palace par “Belle Journée En Perspective” collectif de photographes reunissant Alain Bali, David Cosset et Jean-Luc Maby

A Komi pagan shrine in a spruce forest, probably Abjaćoj village, 1960s

SLC Punk! - Dir. James Merendino (1999)

Alexander McQueen: Silver Crown of Thorns Headpiece, for the "Dante" runway show Autumn/Winter 1996

Ana Mendieta (Cuban-American, 1948-1985, b. Havana, Cuba, d. Greenwich Village, New York, NY, USA, Murdered Artists) - Volcán (Volcano) Series, Executed 1979, Printed 1999, Land Arts, Body Arts