Urban History of Amsterdam

Posted on 02/11/2020 by Mimi Berlin Amsterdam

The archaeological finds of the North / Southline in Amsterdam

During the excavation of soil for the North/South Metro line an archaeological research-team was created, they found a massive collection of 665,412 man-made objects. From 18 century nails and jewelry to spoons from the 1980s. Some of these objects are on display at Station Rokin, the complete collection can be found online at belowtheservice.amsterdam

In 2004 the digging started for a new metro line in Amsterdam, the North/Southline, it was finished in july 2018. It ‘s a short line of only 9,7 km long, but it runs under water from Central Station to the Nortern part of the city. That’s why it’s quite functional, because without a car you could only reach Amsterdam Noord by ferry-boat or bus.

Anyways you vcan view the complete collection online and play with it. Like we did above. That’s all for today! Have a nice one! xoxo Mimi

Tallest Men on Earth in the 20th century

Posted on 05/03/2019 by Mimi Berlin Amsterdam

Tallest Men

The three men pictured below were some the tallest men on earth, in the beginning of the 20th century. Ralph ‘Tex’ Madsen or the ‘Tall Cowboy’ was photographed in 1919 on the steps of the Capitol in the US of A. The German soldier, photographed and captivated at Calais in 1944 is believed to be Jakob Nacken. After WWII he returned to New York, where his job was being the largest Santa Claus in the world. Gogea Mitu a.k.a. ‘Goliath of Romania’ was a boxer from, yes; Romania, photograped here in 1935 together with an ‘opponent’. They all most likely suffered from gigantism don’t you think?

How lovely and strange are these images?!
That’s it for today: Have a one! xoxo Mimi

(The photo’s were originally made in black and white, they have been colorized later on- via @historycolored)
Click the link to see more tall people on this blog.

The Tomb of Eurysaces the Baker

Posted on 23/08/2018 by Mimi Berlin Amsterdam

Eurysaces

Marcus Vergilius Eurysaces was a baker, his familiy tomb was built around 50-20 BC. It is one of the best preserved ‘freedman’ funerary monuments in Rome.
(image via pocketrome.wordpress.com)

Modern

Apart from it’s modern look; the circles are believed to be grain-measuring vessels and the collums refer to a bakers’ kneading devices. The encription “Est hoc monimentvm marcei vergilei everysacis pistoris redemptoris apparet” which means “This is the monument of Marcus Vergilius Eurysaces, baker, contractor, public servant, obviously” seems written with a touch of humour, obviously.

Freedmen

This tomb is special because it was built by a freedmen. Freedmen were Roman citizens, former slaves set free by their masters. Nowadays one could call these selfmade persons “Nouveau Riche” because they wanted to show how wealthy they became, or leave a legacy because they weren’t noble men. Viewing history in this manner surely brings the Roman Empire closer to the years we live in nowadays. Interesting n’est pas?!

Interview Magazine Deceased A Brief History

Posted on 28/05/2018 by Mimi Berlin Amsterdam

Interview Magazine

We all heard the news by now that Interview Magazine won’t be published anymore, it’s deceased of bankruptcy. We think it’s horrible for the employees. But for us, at Mimi Berlin that isn’t really sad news. Why not? you ask of us, well maybe some explanaton is in order here.

All you ever wanted to know about Interview Magazine

The first issue of the glamorous newspaper was published in late 1969. Yes, let that sink in for a moment; it was in the previous century! The magazine was started by Andy Warhol (1928-1987) and John Wilcock (also one of the five co-founders of the New York Village Voice newspaper.) Interview was a so-called underground platform. The magazine was very populair in the 1970’s and was read by the in-crowd of the entire globe. The iconic covers, made by Richard Bernstein (1939-2002) from 1972 to 1989, date from that period.

Interview Magazine Deceased A Brief History

Interview Magazine cover, April/May 2018. Joaquin Phoenix photo by Hedi Slimane.

Interview Magazine cover, September 2008. Kate Moss.

Interview Magazine cover, September 1976, by Richard Bernstiein. Diana Ross.

Interview Magazine cover, May 1972, by Richard Bernstiein. Donna Jordan on the cover

The First issue of Interview 1969.

Brant Publications, Inc

Afer the death of Andy Warhol, Peter Brant (Brant Publications) acquired the magazine in 1989. Ingrid Barbara Sischy (1952-2015) became the editor until 2008. Continue reading →

Mamie Eisenhower wore Pink

Posted on 04/10/2017 by Mimi Berlin Amsterdam

Mamie Eisenhower wore Pink

The US presidential inauguration of Dwight D. Eisenhower in 1953 when Eisenhower’s wife Mamie Eisenhower wore a pink dress as her inaugural gown is thought to have been a key turning point to the association of pink as a color associated with girls. Mamie’s strong liking of pink led to the public association with pink being a color that “ladylike women wear.” The 1957 American musical Funny Face also played a role in cementing the color’s association with women. Mamie Eisenhower wore Pink

Mamie Eisenhower in her pink inaugural gown, painted in 1953 by Thomas Stevens. (img via https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Pink) Continue reading →

The Ideal City/La Città Ideale in the 15th Century

Posted on 15/08/2017 by Mimi Berlin Amsterdam

The Ideal City/La Città Ideale in the 15th Century

If you paid attention during art history classes (well, even if you didn’t) you know that the paintings ‘The Ideal City/La Città Ideale’ are one of the most fine examples of Italian Renaissance work. The Ideal City/La Città Ideale is a name given to 3 paintings which are kept at Urbino, Baltimore and Berlin and are named likewise. They are also known as the Urbino perspectives. The Ideal City of Urbino is the one we would like to share with you in specific. The Ideal City of Urbino, circa 1470, tempera on panel. (image via commons.wikimedia.org)

At the time we were in school this painting was believed to be made by Piero della Francesca. After that it was attributed to Luciano Laurana (and Francesco di Giorgio, Martini or Melozzo da Forlì.) Nowadays nobody knows for sure. (#theunneccesraythings #youneedlearnandremember) Continue reading →