Posts by Madeleine Muzdakis

Madeleine Muzdakis

Madeleine Muzdakis is a Contributing Writer at My Modern Met and a historian of early modern Britain & the Atlantic world. She holds a BA in History and Mathematics from Brown University and an MA in European & Russian Studies from Yale University. Madeleine has worked in archives and museums for years with a particular focus on photography and arts education. When she isn’t writing, she enjoys hiking, film photography, and studying law while cuddling with her cat Georgia.
Art History
March 13, 2022

Explore and Download Over 220,000 Traditional Japanese Woodblock Prints

Japan has a rich and colorful artistic history. In the late 17th century, woodblock printing became a popular medium of artistic expression. Known as ukiyo-e—meaning pictures of the floating world—these stunning prints are produced by carving an illustration into a block of wood, making an impression with ink, and painstakingly hand-painting color details. Ukiyo-e works depict famous scenes from literature and theater, as well as lovely landscapes and other subjects.

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Social Cause
March 7, 2022

Airbnb Bookings in Ukraine Have Raised Nearly $2 Million To Help Local Hosts in Need

People around the world use Airbnb as their side hustle or even their full-time job. For many Ukrainian hosts, the Russian invasion has disrupted everything about their lives, including their business. However, the international Airbnb community is stepping up to support hosts and funnel much-needed donations into the besieged nation.

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Environment
March 2, 2022

Germany Accelerates Its Clean Energy Goals After Freezing Russian Pipeline Plans

All eyes are on the brutality of Russian President Vladimir Putin's unprovoked war on the sovereign nation Ukraine. As protesters around the world call for an end to the aggression and raise donations to support the fighters on the ground, the crisis has thrown into dramatic relief the interconnectedness of Europe and Russia. Specifically, many European nations are dependent on Russian energy supplies.

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Animals
February 23, 2022

Google App Uses Artificial Intelligence to Find Your Pet’s Look-Alike in Art History

In 2018, Google put their impressive artificial intelligence to use in a new way. People took selfies and uploaded snaps on the Google Arts & Culture app. The app then analyzed your appearance and found doppelgängers throughout hundreds of years of art history. Even celebrities jumped on the trend by posting their unlikely look-alikes. Now, your beloved pets can use the app with a new feature called Pet Portraits.

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My Modern Met

Celebrating creativity and promoting a positive culture by spotlighting the best sides of humanity—from the lighthearted and fun to the thought-provoking and enlightening.