It’s artbookfriday and I have to tell one thing beforehand, this is one of the best exhibition catalogues I have ever read! Really, it’s funny, it’s interesting, it’s a good overview of cosmetics, jewellery and hair design of mankind. 

But let’s start at the beginning. A few weeks ago I discovered the art book “Eva’s Beauty Case”on Instagram. This sounded very exciting, so I had to read it. Three days later the team of LVR-Landesmuseum Bonn delivered a copy to my doorstep. Thanks again, it was really quick. Now I hold the book in my hands and I am blown away.

For the first time of my life I read an essay about archaeological topics and I loved it! Attractiveness was always important for humans. Did you know the oldest jewellery is over 80 000 years old? I didn’t. Washing, caring, hairdressing, perfuming, adorning yourself is not something special for women. Both men and women practice body modifications. So it’s often not easy to say for the historians if it’s an object of a woman or a man. The Egyptians put makeup on – men and women. Because of the climate it was meaningful to do this, so they protected their skin. A lot of objects explain how people “style” themselves. Sure, not everyone had the possibility to adorn, groom and fashion themselves in a luxury way.

So what’s inside your beauty case???

During my read of this wonderful book I got a view inside so many beauty cases (of the Egyptians, Romans, ancient Greeks…) I asked myself what’s inside my beauty case and how does a beauty case look today? Since 9/11 beauty cases changed. Airport security measures have been increased, liquid things like perfume, shampoos or body lotions may be taken with a maximum of 100 ml. All those things you have to put in a plastic bag. Something changes in our culture. But if I travel by train only for two days, I take my favorite beauty case of Longchamps.

And what’s inside? Let’s have a look! 🙂

Now I have shown you my beauty case – although I want to tell you how wonderful this art book is. But maybe this is the best evidence. I was so busy with the topic I forgot to tell you more details about the book. But maybe it’s not necessary. If you are interested in Eva’s Beauty Case you should also visit the exhibition (until 22. January 2017) in Bonn.

#artbook | Eva’s Beauty Case

#language | German

#publisher | Hirmer Verlag

#ISBN | 978-3-7774-2588-7

#pages | 168

#published | 20126

you can get your copy here.