— Abby S.

Les Miserables Modern!AU → Grantaire

“The Duet” (1883) (detail) by Pascal Dagnan-Bouveret (1852-1929).

thinking about leyendecker lawrence of arabia...

Liebesszene (Love Scene), Käthe Kollwitz (1909-10) / Hannibal 3.13 The Wrath of the Lamb

Dostoevsky Moodboard Challenge ( 11 / infinite ) : Demons

Character Aesthetic: Pyotr Stepanovich Verkhovensky

“Listen. I’ve seen a child of six years old leading home his drunken mother, whilst she swore at him with foul words. Do you suppose I am glad of that? When it’s in our hands, maybe we’ll mend things… if need be, we’ll drive them for forty years into the wilderness…. But one or two generations of vice are essential now; monstrous, abject vice by which a man is transformed into a loathsome, cruel, egoistic reptile. That’s what we need! And what’s more, a little ‘fresh blood’ that we may get accustomed to it. Why are you laughing? I am not contradicting myself. I am only contradicting the philanthropists and Shigalovism, not myself! I am a scoundrel, not a socialist. Ha ha ha! I’m only sorry there’s no time. I promised Karmazinov to begin in May, and to make an end by October. Is that too soon? Ha ha! Do you know what, Stavrogin? Though the Russian people use foul language, there’s nothing cynical about them so far. Do you know the serfs had more self-respect than Karmazinov? Though they were beaten they always preserved their gods, which is more than Karmazinov’s done.”

“Well, Verhovensky, this is the first time I’ve heard you talk, and I listen with amazement,” observed Stavrogin. “So you are really not a socialist, then, but some sort of… ambitious politician?”

“A scoundrel, a scoundrel! You are wondering what I am. I’ll tell you what I am directly, that’s what I am leading up to. It was not for nothing that I kissed your hand. But the people-must believe that we know what we are after, while the other side do nothing but 'brandish their cudgels and beat their own followers.’ Ah, if we only had more time! That’s the only trouble, we have no time. We will proclaim destruction….. Why is it, why is it that idea has such a fascination. But we must have a little exercise; we must. We’ll set fires going…. We’ll set legends going. Every scurvy 'group’ will be of use. Out of those very groups I’ll pick you out fellows so keen they’ll not shrink from shooting, and be grateful for the honour of a job, too. Well, and there will be an upheaval! There’s going to be such an upset as the world has never seen before…. Russia will be overwhelmed with darkness, the earth will weep for its old gods….. ”

Translated by Constance Garnett

Hannibal 1.13 Savoureux / Fear Paralyzes the Will, Viktor Pivovarov (1937)

K I N G  S T A N N I S  B A R A T H E O N  I

I was trying to win the throne to save the kingdom, when I should have been trying to save the kingdom to win the throne.

Details: Vanitas, 1645, by Cagnacci Guido (1601-1682).

“ Second star to the right … And straight on ‘til morning. ”