Alexandra Jones I Alpha Juliet
@jonesatwork.bsky.social
Consulting analyst. Polymetis. Organised crime & Security. Complexity, networks, systems. *OkkiPepernoot on X.
.And this one. Heartbreaking. The Two-Headed Calf by Laura Gilpin 1977. The illustrated version is by Adam Tots (I think).
October 16, 2025 at 5:59 PM
.And this one. Heartbreaking. The Two-Headed Calf by Laura Gilpin 1977. The illustrated version is by Adam Tots (I think).
@tkhirschfeld.bsky.social I'm a bit late to the party, but I am currently reading your book 'Gangster States'. It's very good. Really very good. Well conceived, well written. 👍🏼
July 27, 2025 at 11:18 AM
@tkhirschfeld.bsky.social I'm a bit late to the party, but I am currently reading your book 'Gangster States'. It's very good. Really very good. Well conceived, well written. 👍🏼
.And you know what? There's more of them.
I honestly didn't know such people existed.
I honestly didn't know such people existed.
April 6, 2025 at 3:19 PM
.And you know what? There's more of them.
I honestly didn't know such people existed.
I honestly didn't know such people existed.
Unusual choice of font
April 1, 2025 at 11:04 AM
Unusual choice of font
Dear followers, if you read one book this year, let it be Thieves of State by Sarah Chayes. About corruption, dispair, rebellions and extremism, and injustice. And fascinating history. It changed my perspective.
January 5, 2025 at 1:39 PM
Dear followers, if you read one book this year, let it be Thieves of State by Sarah Chayes. About corruption, dispair, rebellions and extremism, and injustice. And fascinating history. It changed my perspective.
Gift to oneself
December 31, 2024 at 1:42 PM
Gift to oneself
Nobody here eats poffertjes as a traditional dish for New Year's Eve/Sylvester. The traditional food is "oliebollen", with raisins. A bit smaller than a tennis ball. Served with icing sugar.
December 27, 2024 at 3:48 PM
Nobody here eats poffertjes as a traditional dish for New Year's Eve/Sylvester. The traditional food is "oliebollen", with raisins. A bit smaller than a tennis ball. Served with icing sugar.
How did Breugel's painting acquired by Emperor Rudolph in Prague come into the possession of the Royal Gallery?
It was looted from Prague by Swedish soldiers in one of the last battles of the Thirty Years War, in 1648.
Engraving by Johann Georg Schleder.
It was looted from Prague by Swedish soldiers in one of the last battles of the Thirty Years War, in 1648.
Engraving by Johann Georg Schleder.
December 22, 2024 at 3:37 PM
How did Breugel's painting acquired by Emperor Rudolph in Prague come into the possession of the Royal Gallery?
It was looted from Prague by Swedish soldiers in one of the last battles of the Thirty Years War, in 1648.
Engraving by Johann Georg Schleder.
It was looted from Prague by Swedish soldiers in one of the last battles of the Thirty Years War, in 1648.
Engraving by Johann Georg Schleder.
Villagers plead with authorities for mercy, for help, for justice - but in vain. Rulers who don't respect the life and rights of their people are no longer legitimate rulers. The Dutch revolt began in 1566, a full blown insurgency from 1568 on.
December 22, 2024 at 3:36 PM
Villagers plead with authorities for mercy, for help, for justice - but in vain. Rulers who don't respect the life and rights of their people are no longer legitimate rulers. The Dutch revolt began in 1566, a full blown insurgency from 1568 on.
The Massacre of the Innocents depicts the horrors of war, the suffering of the civilian population. Mercenaries are on a rampage - looting, killing. Again, the copy depicteing the original image on the left, the original on the right.
December 22, 2024 at 3:35 PM
The Massacre of the Innocents depicts the horrors of war, the suffering of the civilian population. Mercenaries are on a rampage - looting, killing. Again, the copy depicteing the original image on the left, the original on the right.
The soldiers carry a flag with them, and even that was altered; a golden lion was painted over the Christian cross still visible in the copies. It's not easy to see, but the one on the left is the original; the flag has been tampered with.
December 22, 2024 at 3:31 PM
The soldiers carry a flag with them, and even that was altered; a golden lion was painted over the Christian cross still visible in the copies. It's not easy to see, but the one on the left is the original; the flag has been tampered with.
In the original, the man leading the soldiers isn't recognisable as anybody in particular. i don't know if his face has been repainted. In the copies, the face bears a strong resemblance to the much hated Duke de Alba, who led the army of (Habsburg) King Philip II.
December 22, 2024 at 3:29 PM
In the original, the man leading the soldiers isn't recognisable as anybody in particular. i don't know if his face has been repainted. In the copies, the face bears a strong resemblance to the much hated Duke de Alba, who led the army of (Habsburg) King Philip II.
And then there are the soldiers. Two groups of armed men are involved, one that looks like 'regular army' and another of German mercenaries, the so-called Landsknechte. Landsknechte were recognisable by their colourful clothing, esp trousers.
December 22, 2024 at 3:25 PM
And then there are the soldiers. Two groups of armed men are involved, one that looks like 'regular army' and another of German mercenaries, the so-called Landsknechte. Landsknechte were recognisable by their colourful clothing, esp trousers.
How do we know that Bruegel very much intended to point the finger at the Spanish/Habsburg brutality in The Netherlands? In his 3rd Bethlehem painting , "The
Census at Bethlehem" shows the Habsburg double eagle at the census office.
Census at Bethlehem" shows the Habsburg double eagle at the census office.
December 22, 2024 at 3:23 PM
How do we know that Bruegel very much intended to point the finger at the Spanish/Habsburg brutality in The Netherlands? In his 3rd Bethlehem painting , "The
Census at Bethlehem" shows the Habsburg double eagle at the census office.
Census at Bethlehem" shows the Habsburg double eagle at the census office.
Even the reference to the location was erased: on the left the sign as it was, with a reference to the star that led the magi to Bethlehem.
December 22, 2024 at 3:20 PM
Even the reference to the location was erased: on the left the sign as it was, with a reference to the star that led the magi to Bethlehem.
In this detail we see a couple imploring the soldier not to take their son, but take the girl instead. This is awful as it is, but it makes no sense in the manipulated image: don't take the goose, take our daughter instead??
December 22, 2024 at 3:19 PM
In this detail we see a couple imploring the soldier not to take their son, but take the girl instead. This is awful as it is, but it makes no sense in the manipulated image: don't take the goose, take our daughter instead??
Compare the Viennese copy with the doctored original:
December 22, 2024 at 3:17 PM
Compare the Viennese copy with the doctored original:
Let's take a closer look. On the original, dead or dying children were covered with chickens, livestock, bundled cloth &c. Left: the original (A), right: the Viennese copy (C). [different resolutions, sorry]. Confusing, but the copy depicts the original image.
December 22, 2024 at 3:13 PM
Let's take a closer look. On the original, dead or dying children were covered with chickens, livestock, bundled cloth &c. Left: the original (A), right: the Viennese copy (C). [different resolutions, sorry]. Confusing, but the copy depicts the original image.
Here are details from the doctored original (A) and from 2 copies (B: in Brukenthal Museum, Sibiu and C: Kunsthistorisches Museum, Vienna). Rudolph had A turned into a picture of looting rather than the organised killing of children.
December 22, 2024 at 3:09 PM
Here are details from the doctored original (A) and from 2 copies (B: in Brukenthal Museum, Sibiu and C: Kunsthistorisches Museum, Vienna). Rudolph had A turned into a picture of looting rather than the organised killing of children.
He had it painted over. Here's where the copies come in handy. It depicts the events as related in Matthew 2: 16-18. King Herod was in fear of being supplanted by the new born King and ordered the killing of all young boys in Bethlehem.
December 22, 2024 at 3:08 PM
He had it painted over. Here's where the copies come in handy. It depicts the events as related in Matthew 2: 16-18. King Herod was in fear of being supplanted by the new born King and ordered the killing of all young boys in Bethlehem.
Bruegel painted the Massacre of the Innocents in 1564. It was copied a number of times, which is a good thing as we'll see. The painting was acquired by the great art collector, the Habsburg Emperor Rudolph. It is now in the Royal Gallery. This is the original:
December 22, 2024 at 3:06 PM
Bruegel painted the Massacre of the Innocents in 1564. It was copied a number of times, which is a good thing as we'll see. The painting was acquired by the great art collector, the Habsburg Emperor Rudolph. It is now in the Royal Gallery. This is the original:
So, because it's December I will post a few long threads about one of my favourite painters, Pieter Bruegel, and a few of his works. There's more to them then at first appears.
Pieter Bruegel (or Brueghel or Breugel). Bruegel was born in Brabant, ~1525-1530, died in Brussels in 1569.
Vamos!
Pieter Bruegel (or Brueghel or Breugel). Bruegel was born in Brabant, ~1525-1530, died in Brussels in 1569.
Vamos!
December 22, 2024 at 2:59 PM
So, because it's December I will post a few long threads about one of my favourite painters, Pieter Bruegel, and a few of his works. There's more to them then at first appears.
Pieter Bruegel (or Brueghel or Breugel). Bruegel was born in Brabant, ~1525-1530, died in Brussels in 1569.
Vamos!
Pieter Bruegel (or Brueghel or Breugel). Bruegel was born in Brabant, ~1525-1530, died in Brussels in 1569.
Vamos!
More traffic signs in The Hague. We seem very fond of them. Piet Heinstraat, The Hague.
November 30, 2024 at 10:51 AM
More traffic signs in The Hague. We seem very fond of them. Piet Heinstraat, The Hague.
Verversingskanaal, The Hague.
These are traffic signs - for motorised boats and canoes. The signs show the route no. you're on, and guide you through the province/country. The green sign w the canoe means 'straight on for line/route 75, you're headed for the no.80 junction'.
These are traffic signs - for motorised boats and canoes. The signs show the route no. you're on, and guide you through the province/country. The green sign w the canoe means 'straight on for line/route 75, you're headed for the no.80 junction'.
November 30, 2024 at 10:49 AM
Verversingskanaal, The Hague.
These are traffic signs - for motorised boats and canoes. The signs show the route no. you're on, and guide you through the province/country. The green sign w the canoe means 'straight on for line/route 75, you're headed for the no.80 junction'.
These are traffic signs - for motorised boats and canoes. The signs show the route no. you're on, and guide you through the province/country. The green sign w the canoe means 'straight on for line/route 75, you're headed for the no.80 junction'.
Autumn in The Hague.
November 24, 2024 at 3:55 PM
Autumn in The Hague.