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Stories

  • In pictures

Water of life?

From ancient sources of spiritual sustenance to the modern spa, Ross MacFarlane traces a brief history of healing waters.

  • Article

Blood

Discover the history, mythology and taboos around blood and menopause, and hear from some contemporary voices about their experiences of periods and the onset of menopause.

  • Article

Lustmord and the three perspectives of murder

Artist Jenny Holzer's work shines a light on the three perspectives of sexual murder: the victim, the perpetrator and the observer.

  • Book extract

The history of brainwashing

Is it possible to control what other people think? In this abridged extract from his book ‘Brainwashed’, psychoanalyst and historian Daniel Pick offers us a new history of thought control.

All stories (6)

Images

  • 'Metuvit' cleanses, heals and stimulates formation of granulation and of epithelium Chemosan-Union A.G., Vienna.
  • Vim, cleanser and polisher, advert
  • Ivorine - The Wonderful Cleanser.
  • Lovely teeth kept lovely because.... Kolynos dental cream cleans in between.
  • [Leaflet advertising devil's claw as a herbal cleanser, detoxifier and for rheumatic conditions].
  • [Leaflet advertising devil's claw as a herbal cleanser, detoxifier and for rheumatic conditions].
  • Pinus mugo Turra, Pinaceae Mountain pine. Distribution: Mountain regions in south and central Europe. Source of pine cone syrup used in cooking. Pine trees in general have a small edible pine nut in the pine cone, which Lyte (1578) writes are 'good for the lungs, they cleanse the breast, and cause the fleme to be spit out: also they nourish well and engender good blood, and for this cause they are good for such as have the cough.' He wrote that it was used for burns, wounds, dysentery, and as a diuretic. Quincy says of fir (Pinus) cones that they strengthen the genital parts, and increase the quantity of seed, or increase Desire without adding to Ability or Performance. Photographed in the Medicinal Garden of the Royal College of Physicians, London.
  • A soldier stands on a wall as a man cleans his boots. Coloured etching.
  • A shoeshine boy cleans the boots of a man in drag. Photographic postcard, ca. 1905.
  • A shoeshine boy cleans the boots of a man in drag. Photographic postcard, ca. 1905.
All images (115)

Catalogue

All works (433)