Their eternal paradise was the Field of Malachite;
this was the realm of Osiris, the god with green skin.
Cinnabar, 4000-3100 BCE
Red for the blood of Isis,
red for the fire and anger of Set,
red for the firey aspect of Sekhmet.
Hematite, red jaspar, carnelian, cinnabar
would be ground to rouge their lips and cheeks.
How soon did they know
the mercury in cinnabar was toxic?
Antimony, 3100 BCE
They made a powder of stibnite,
adding things like ochre, malachite, burnt almonds,
used it to paint around their eyes.
From paintings on the walls of tombs
the eyes grab our attention.
Eye liner, eye shadow, almond eyes.
Cosmetics with pigments
Face painting for warriors and children
Lipstick, mascara, eye shadow, rouge, blush
modeled by women who don’t need it to look beautiful
Hair dye, nail polish
expressions of individuality
Henna, genipapo, tattoo, body painting
can express tradition, individuality, artistic freedom
or serve as an insect repellent
Mime, clown, blackface, stage makeup, cosplay
much of our lives is fantasy anyway
Military camouflage face paints, eye black for athletes
can save a life, or like any superstition,
act as an insurance policy against the fates.
Natural canvas
Any natural thing with a power to move people
can be used for selfish and destructive purposes.
If people are not manipulating their environment,
they are at least being manipulated by manipulated environments.
Who doesn’t appreciate grace and beauty?
Who wouldn’t be willing to borrow a fallen feather,
or hang precious stones from neck or earlobes,
or paint a beauty mark to the right of the nose?
Isn’t cosmetics a form of artistic expression
whose canvas is an innocent as a smile?
Yes, using makeup is an art; however, I grew up in a time when natural looks
were more appreciated, when a singer-songwriter didn’t need
to sing with a beautiful voice, and could record without a lot of work in the studio.
Authenticity and sincerity provide good references for the wandering soul.
Yes, using makeup is an art; however, I grew up in a time when natural looks were more appreciated, when a singer-songwriter didn’t need to sing with a beautiful voice, and could record without a lot of work in the studio. Authenticity and sincerity provide good references for the wandering soul.
See also in The book of science:
Readings in wikipedia:
Other readings: