Impressive Posters From the Belle Époque by Adolf Karpellus

Adolf Karpellus (1869–1919) was an Austrian painter and illustrator celebrated for his elegant portrayals of fin-de-siècle life — from fashionable women and garden scenes to luminous landscapes and travel posters that captured the spirit of the Belle Époque.

Born in Mährisch-Weißkirchen (now Hranice, Czech Republic), Karpellus studied at the Academy of Fine Arts in Vienna, where he developed a refined style influenced by both naturalism and the decorative movement of the late 19th century. He became widely known through his illustrations for magazines such as Die Gartenlaube and Illustrirte Zeitung, where his soft color palette and graceful compositions reflected the optimism and sophistication of the age.

In addition to his illustration work, Karpellus produced a series of travel and exhibition posters — notably for Austrian resorts and alpine destinations — that showcased his talent for combining romantic scenery with graphic clarity. His works often evoke a serene and idyllic world, filled with sunlight, elegance, and quiet charm.

These impressive posters by Adolf Karpellus capture the elegance, optimism, and artistic refinement of the Belle Époque — a time when beauty and imagination shaped everyday life.

Kakao Meinl, 1896

Langer & comp. - Fabrik - Photograph - Apparate, 1898

Delicates Aroma, Pekareks Thee, 1899

Pekareks China und Ceylon Thees, 1899

Eislauf und Sprotplatz Cobenzl, circa 1900

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Andy Griffith Posing With His Collection of Early Classic Cars at His Home, 1979

Andy Griffith, best known as the folksy Sheriff Andy Taylor from The Andy Griffith Show and the witty lawyer in Matlock, was also a man who loved classic cars — not for their flash or fame, but for their craftsmanship and nostalgia. His collection reflected the same down-to-earth sensibilities that made him a beloved television icon.

In 1979, Griffith was photographed with his impressive collection of meticulously restored classic cars at his home in Toluca Lake, California, which included a Model T Ford, a 1930 Model A Ford Cabriolet, a 1938 Buick Special, a 1928 Ford Phaeton, a 1938 Buick Convertible Coupe and the car he drives to work each day – a 1934 Ford Model A pickup.

Unlike Hollywood stars who flaunted Ferraris or Lamborghinis, Griffith preferred American classics that evoked his North Carolina roots. He admired vehicles built in the 1930s to 1950s, cars that captured the spirit of the simpler times his characters so often celebrated on screen.

Griffith wasn’t a hands-on mechanic, but he had a deep respect for the art of car building. He loved to talk with restorers about engines, chrome detailing, and original interiors. Each of his vehicles did exactly that, from the roaring chrome of the postwar era to the humble pickup that looked as though it might’ve rolled right out of Mayberry. He often said he preferred “cars with stories,” ones that had been loved and driven, not just displayed.

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25 Glamorous Studio Photos of Jaclyn Smith Posing for the TV Series “Charlie’s Angels” in 1976

Jaclyn Smith portrayed Kelly Garrett in the iconic television series Charlie’s Angels, which originally aired from 1976 to 1981 on ABC. She was the only original “Angel” to remain with the show for its entire five-season run.

Kelly Garrett was known as the smart, stylish, and composed detective, often serving as the heart of the trio. Unlike some of her more impulsive partners, Garrett was portrayed as calm under pressure, intuitive, and emotionally grounded—traits that made her both an excellent investigator and a fan favorite.

Smith’s portrayal helped define the show’s blend of glamour, action, and independence, becoming a cultural touchstone of 1970s television. She also made cameo appearances as Kelly Garrett in the films Charlie’s Angels: Full Throttle (2003) and Charlie’s Angels (2019).

Beyond the show, Smith became one of the era’s best-known TV stars and went on to build a successful business career, notably with her own clothing and home product lines.

Liv Ullmann: The Soul of Scandinavian Cinema

Liv Ullmann is a Norwegian actress, writer, and director whose luminous screen presence and emotional depth made her one of the most celebrated figures in world cinema. Born in Tokyo in 1938 and raised in Norway, she began her acting career on stage before rising to international prominence through her long and remarkable collaboration with Swedish filmmaker Ingmar Bergman.

Ullmann’s performances in films such as Persona (1966), Cries and Whispers (1972), Scenes from a Marriage (1973), and Autumn Sonata (1978) revealed a rare intensity — a fearless exploration of love, isolation, and the human soul. Her expressive face and quiet vulnerability became hallmarks of Bergman’s cinematic world, earning her acclaim as one of the finest actresses of her generation.

Beyond acting, Ullmann became an accomplished director and humanitarian. Her directorial works, including Sofie (1992) and Faithless (2000), reflect the same sensitivity and moral insight that define her performances. She also served as a UNICEF Goodwill Ambassador, using her voice for compassion and advocacy on global issues.

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A Very Young Marilyn Monroe, aka Norma Jeane, Photographed at the Mission San Juan Capistrano, California, 1946

During a holiday weekend, following the Labor Day holiday, André De Dienes and Marilyn Monroe set out to visit several California missions: first, the mission in San Juan Capistrano, then others further south, until the last one in San Diego. The missions are small cells where the Padres had once slept on primitive wooden bedsteads covered with a thin straw mattress.

De Dienes, a Hungarian-born photographer known for his poetic outdoor portraits, had first met Norma Jeane in 1945 when she was a young model under contract with the Blue Book Modeling Agency. He was immediately struck by her natural radiance and emotional depth in front of the camera.

35 Kodachrome Slides Capture San Francisco Street Scenes in the Early 1960s

The early 1960s were a time of quiet transformation in San Francisco — a city poised between postwar tradition and the cultural awakening that would soon make it world-famous. Before the Summer of Love and the countercultural wave, the streets still carried an air of mid-century grace: cable cars clattering through Nob Hill, pastel Cadillacs gliding past corner diners, and well-dressed pedestrians moving with unhurried confidence through the morning fog.

Market Street buzzed with commerce, neon signs flickering over department stores and movie theaters. In North Beach, artists, poets, and jazz musicians spilled into cafés, blending bohemian spirit with urban sophistication. Meanwhile, streetcars and classic American cars filled the hills, their chrome reflecting the California light. The city’s architecture — Victorian row houses beside modernist towers — mirrored the era’s contrasts: old San Francisco meeting the promise of the new decade.

These found Kodachrome slides of San Francisco’s early 1960s streets capture a city on the edge of change — elegant, energetic, and alive with the quiet charm of another time.

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Women Shopping for Perfumes and Jewelry at Illum Department Store in Copenhagen, Denmark, 1904

The Illum department store opened in 1891, initially selling sewing supplies. It was founded by a young man named Carl Illum, and its target audience was the wealthy women of Copenhagen, Denmark. Thanks to excellent customer service and a wide product selection, the store did exceptionally well. Seven years later, it was able to move to a much larger location, transforming the small shop into a full-fledged department store. Carl Illum was soon able to purchase a neighboring property, an old Renaissance building. There was a significant amount of protest when Illum demolished the historic building to expand his store.

Carl Illum died in 1938, and his family took over the department store. The company continued to expand throughout the 1950s, 1960s, and 1970s, becoming an even larger department store. In 1972, the family sold the business. Today, Illum department store still exists in central Copenhagen.