André Wilquin: The Master of French Graphic Modernism

André Wilquin (1899-2000) was a visionary French graphic artist whose prolific career defined the visual landscape of advertising and publishing in the first half of the 20th century.

Renowned for his exceptional versatility, Wilquin was a master of the “L’affiche” (poster) art form, blending bold, stylized typography with striking imagery. His work for iconic brands and his legendary book cover designs, most notably for the Livre de Poche series, showcased his ability to distill complex narratives into a single, compelling visual.

Wilquin’s style sat at the perfect intersection of Art Deco elegance and modern minimalism, characterized by clean lines, vibrant color palettes, and a keen sense of balance. Browse through this collection to appreciate the genius of André Wilquin, whose bold designs and iconic covers shaped the aesthetic of an entire era.

Pernod Fils, circa 1920

Le cancer tue en France 60.000 personnes par an, 1920

Remington Portable Typewriter, circa 1925

Dans un Jardin Grenoville Parfumeur à Paris, circa 1927

Etrennes, jouets, mardi 3 décembre et pendant tout le mois, 1929-1930

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22 Stunning Portraits of a Very Young Liza Minnelli in the 1960s

Liza May Minnelli (born March 12, 1946) is an American actress, singer, and dancer. Known for her commanding stage presence and powerful alto singing voice, Minnelli has received numerous accolades, including an Academy Award, a BAFTA Award, an Emmy Award, two Golden Globe Awards, and four Tony Awards. She is one of the few performers awarded a non-competitive EGOT having received an honorary Grammy Award.

In the 1960s, Minnelli transformed from “Judy Garland’s daughter” into a Broadway powerhouse and Academy Award-nominated actress. She moved to New York City in 1961 and quickly established herself as a versatile performer across musical theatre, nightclubs, and television.

She began her professional career at 17 in the 1963 Off-Broadway revival of Best Foot Forward, winning a Theatre World Award. At just 19 years old, she became the youngest person ever to win the Tony Award for Best Actress in a Musical for her lead role in Flora the Red Menace (1965). This show also marked the beginning of her career-long collaboration with Kander and Ebb. Toward the end of the decade, she achieved critical acclaim for her dramatic performance as Pookie Adams in The Sterile Cuckoo (1969), earning her first Academy Award nomination.

Minnelli made frequent appearances on The Ed Sullivan Show and recorded several albums with Capitol Records and A&M Records, including Liza! Liza! (1964) and There Is a Time (1966). 

During this era, her look was youthful and mod, a far cry from the heavily sequined, dramatic image she'd become famous for in the 1970s with Cabaret.

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Outtakes From the Cover Shoot for James Taylor’s “Sweet Baby James” (1970)

Although James Taylor released his debut album for the Beatles’ Apple Records in 1968, it wasn’t until his second LP, 1970’s Sweet Baby James for Warner Bros. Records, that most audiences were introduced to the singer-songwriter. The album, featuring such Taylor songs as “Fire and Rain,” “Country Road,” “Blossom,” and the title cut, was a significant success, commercially, it reached #3 on the U.S sales chart, and critically, it received a Grammy Award nomination for Album of the Year from his peers.

By late 1969, folk musician and photographer Henry Diltz had been photographing many of the biggest recording artists in Southern California, in Los Angeles’ burgeoning Laurel Canyon music scene for several years, and had become a top choice for publicity pictures and album cover photos. In December, 1969, he was hired to shoot some black and white publicity shots of James Taylor, but he liked the colors that day.

“Peter Asher called me one day and asked if I could come to his house and photograph this guy that he was producing,” Diltz told Best Classic Bands. After experiencing success as one-half of the British pop vocal duo Peter and Gordon, Asher had become an executive for Apple Records and signed Taylor. He ultimately resigned his position with the label to become Taylor’s manager.

“I went over and as I walked into the living room,” said Diltz, “James was sitting on the far side, sort of behind the piano with his back to the window, finger-picking ‘Oh, Susannah’ on his guitar. And being a musician, it just absolutely blew me away to hear this music box version of the song. I couldn’t even believe it. It was angelic. I kind of sunk down in front of him and asked if he would play it again. The first pictures I took of him, he was sitting there.”

The photographer then suggested that they “go outside somewhere,” and they went over to a friend of Diltz’s who had a place called “The Farm.”

“It was kind of a musical commune,” he recalled. “There were little sheds, little outhouses and things. So we took pictures there. It was very quiet. We weren’t talking much. And at one point James leaned on this big post. He’s a tall guy and he leaned on it and it filled my frame… my horizontal frame… in a perfect way. I thought, ‘Holy cow… I’m taking black and white, because they wanted publicity pictures.’ So I said, ‘Wait a minute, James, don’t move.’ And I picked up my color camera because in my mind I was thinking I want to show this in my slide shows for my hippie friends and I wanted to show this picture that was blowing my mind.”

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The Chic Revolution: 30 Vintage Snaps That Define ’60s Women’s Styles

The 1960s stands as perhaps the most transformative decade in fashion history, marked by a shift from the polished formality of the fifties to a spirit of youthful rebellion.

In the early years, the “Ladylike” look prevailed, epitomized by Jackie Kennedy’s elegant shift dresses and pillbox hats. However, as the decade progressed, the London-led “Mod” movement took center stage, introducing the world to Mary Quant’s revolutionary miniskirt and bold geometric patterns.

From the sleek, futuristic silhouettes of the Space Age to the free-spirited, bohemian “Hippie” aesthetic that emerged toward the end of the era, 1960s fashion was all about breaking rules. It was a decade where women used vibrant colors, tall go-go boots, and daring hemlines to express a new sense of freedom and individuality that continues to influence the runways today.

Take a nostalgic journey through these vintage snaps and rediscover the iconic looks that continue to inspire the runways of today.

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In 1970, Berta Linson and Roger Mills Became Mississippi’s First Legally Recognized Interracial Couple

In August 1970, Berta Linson and Roger Mills made history as the first legally married interracial couple in Mississippi. Their union was a landmark challenge to the state’s long-standing ban on interracial marriage, occurring three years after the U.S. Supreme Court’s Loving v. Virginia decision had already invalidated such laws nationwide.

Berta Linson, a 24-year-old Black student at Jackson State College, and Roger Mills, a 24-year-old white law clerk for the NAACP Legal Defense Fund. Although the 1967 Supreme Court ruling applied to all states, Mississippi had refused to comply, leaving its 19th-century anti-miscegenation law on the books. 

When the couple applied for a marriage license on July 21, 1970, they were denied by the Hinds County circuit clerk. They immediately filed a lawsuit in federal court to challenge the state's refusal. On July 31, 1970, U.S. District Judge Harold Cox, a judge known for his segregationist views, was forced by the Supreme Court's precedent to order the state to issue the license. 

They were married on August 2, 1970, at the Central United Methodist Church in Jackson. The event was attended by approximately 200 guests, including some who were reportedly armed for protection due to the high risk of violence. The wedding received significant media attention, which the couple found taxing; Berta later expressed that she “hated every minute” of the intense publicity.

The marriage was a landmark moment for civil rights in the South, effectively ending the practical enforcement of Mississippi's ban on interracial unions. The couple eventually moved to Washington, D.C., where Roger finished law school at George Washington University, a move Berta reportedly looked forward to as a reprieve from the tension in Mississippi.

They were married for approximately 18 years before eventually divorcing. They had two daughters; one of them, Demetria Mills, continued the family’s legacy of activism by fighting for marriage equality in the LGBTQ+ community.

Beautiful Portraits of Sophia Loren on the Set of “The Key” (1958)

On the set of the 1958 wartime drama The Key, Sophia Loren was more than just a leading lady, she was a force of nature.

Portraying the mysterious and soulful Stella, Loren brought a profound emotional depth to the film, holding her own alongside Hollywood heavyweights William Holden and Trevor Howard. Behind the scenes, photographs from the production capture Loren’s effortless transition from intense, dramatic focus to moments of relaxed, Mediterranean charm. Even amidst the gritty, monochrome atmosphere of a World War II tugboat setting, her radiant beauty and commanding presence remained undeniable.

These candid moments on set offer a rare glimpse into a pivotal time in her career, marking her ascent from an Italian starlet to a globally revered dramatic actress. Take a look behind the scenes with these vintage photos that capture the elegance and intensity of Sophia Loren during the filming of this cinematic classic.

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On March 1, 1968: Johnny Cash and June Carter Were Married at the Methodist Church in Franklin, Kentucky

Johnny Cash and June Carter married on March 1, 1968, in Franklin, Kentucky – just days after Johnny famously proposed to June on stage during a concert in Ontario, Canada on February 22, 1968, in front of thousands of fans.

Johnny had struggled for years with drug addiction, and June had been instrumental in helping him get clean. His very public proposal, mid-performance, caught June off guard, but she said yes. It became one of the most legendary proposals in music history.

The ceremony was a relatively private affair held in Franklin, Kentucky. It was Johnny’s second marriage (he had previously been married to Vivian Liberto from 1954–1966) and June’s third (she had been previously married to Carl Smith and Rip Nix).

Their marriage was both a personal and professional partnership. They had one son together, John Carter Cash, born in 1970. June had already collaborated with Johnny on the smash hit “Jackson” and “Ring of Fire” (which June co-wrote) before they married.

They remained married for 35 years, until June’s death on May 15, 2003. Johnny passed away just four months later, on September 12, 2003, widely believed to have died of a broken heart. Their love story was immortalized in the 2005 biopic Walk the Line, with Joaquin Phoenix and Reese Witherspoon portraying the couple. Their marriage is considered one of the greatest love stories in American music history.

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