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.
Modern Art
April 12, 2021

1933 Article Refers to the Legendary Frida Kahlo as the “Wife of a Master Mural Painter”

Frida Kahlo is one of the few female artists who has become a universal household name. Her journey to her present fame was a long one, fought against the forces of misogyny and her own failing health. For evidence, look no further than a recently resurfaced 1933 article about the painter in the Detroit News. Written by Florence Davies, the article's headline screams: “Wife of the Master Mural Painter Gleefully Dabbles in Works of Art.

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History
April 7, 2021

Inhale the Long History of Artfully Designed Perfume Bottles

The history of scent is largely ephemeral. After all, the aromas of pressed lilies from the Nile banks or the precious ambergris, once worth more than gold, are hard to imagine if you've never smelled these rarities. While the scent of these delicate perfume ingredients vanishes with time, countless examples of exquisite perfume bottles and containers remain to remind us of the history of the most-neglected sense.

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Landscape Photography
April 5, 2021

Dancing Light Paintings Contour Nature With Fiery Streaks of Illumination

Light is beautiful yet ephemeral. And photography, at its core, is about light; the practice takes its name from the Greek words phos meaning “light,” and graphê, meaning “drawing.” Brazilian photographer Vitor Schietti has fully embraced the nature of light in his work. In 2015, he began a series entitled Impermanent Sculptures that incorporates a technique known as light painting to surround trees and other natural objects with fiery streaks of illumination.

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Architecture
March 31, 2021

All Aboard for the History of the Grand Central Terminal, an Iconic NYC Landmark

If you have taken a train into New York City, you have probably ended up in the lofty halls of Grand Central Terminal. Alongside Penn Station, it is a major transportation hub of America's largest city. With 44 platforms and 67 tracks (and counting), the train station serves the New York City Subway and the Metro-North routes to Connecticut and the Hudson Valley.

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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.