The results of our first survey are running almost neck and neck for the next X-muse: Angela Ryan, at this writing, has a slight edge over Liz Ashley for the next exceptional woman to dazzle us all with her naked charms. There is, of course, still time to weigh in with your vote: who do you want to see here next in all her naked glory? Angela Ryan or Liz Ashley?
You decide; we reveal!
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Tehanu |
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Chapter 1: The Royal Concubines and Maitresses-en-titre: Stratospheric Careers and Slow Fades
From a Striptease on an Ancient Witness Stand to Drinking Pearls: The Courtesan’s Many Graces and Faces
Wherein we explore the lives and inspirational qualities of some of the most powerful women who ever lived: the Conquering Beauties from the 5th through the 17th century: The Royal Concubines, Maitresses-en-titre. Edo-era Geisha, Korean kisaeng, and Italian Renaissance Courtesans.
Korea’s answer to the Geisha: The Kisaeng Hwang Jin-I
Korea has a tradition of female entertainers similar to the geisha. Called “kisaeng” or “gisaeng,” these women, like geisha, received extensive training in dance, poetry, calligraphy, and even nursing and textile crafts. Scholars estimate that such women – or a very similar prototype — date as far back as the Goryeo Dynasty (918-1392). During this era they were often adopted as kings’ concubines and given noble rank. Because of this, and like the geisha, the confusion between their position as artist and their potential as sex workers has continued to haunt them. In the Joseon Dynasty (1392-1910), Confucian perceptions discouraged the elevations in rank seen during the Goryeo Dynasty, and in this era, when the kisaeng did indeed engage in sexual transactions, they usually became concubines or mistresses to men of much lower rank than kings. Complicating matters still further, kisaeng were broken down into a hierarchy, with the “court kisaeng” designated as the highest in status and the most skilled (and thus, most likely to trade in desultory sexual favors.)
The most famous kisaeng in Korean history is Hwang Jin-I, also known by her kisaeng name, Myeongwol. She lived between 1520 and 1560. Legendary for her exquisite beauty, quick wit, and exceptional intellect, her life has inspired countless movies, operas, and novels in her native country. Because not many specifics of her life are historically certain, this kisaeng easily lends herself to myth.
Continue reading . . .
posted by:
Veronika |
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We just wrapped up two extraordinary days of shooting with Sarah Ellis. Tehanu jumped into photos as well — sometimes literally. Our escapades including shooting nudes at Devil’s Slide Beach, one of Northern California’s best nude beaches and thrilling some surf fishermen who happened to be plying their avocation.
We’ve posted a few nude beach photos of Sarah Ellis and Tehanu at x-muse.deviantart.com, including this lovely photo of them romping naked!
posted by:
Owen |
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Keep your fingers crossed! We are hoping to get Sarah Ellis and Betcee May together later this Summer; most likely in August. Can we stand it? Can you stand it? Will the planet be consumed by this singularity of awesomeness?
We’ll soon find out…
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Owen |
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Sarah Ellis is back! We will be shooting with for two days later this month. And as an extra-special bonus, she will be shooting with Amber Dawn! We are so excitied we can barely contain ourselves. So check back in the coming weeks for much more of Sarah!!!
posted by:
Tehanu |
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Chapter 1: The Royal Concubines and Maitresses-en-titre: Stratospheric Careers and Slow Fades
From a Striptease on an Ancient Witness Stand to Drinking Pearls: The Courtesan’s Many Graces and Faces
Wherein we explore the lives and inspirational qualities of some of the most powerful women who ever lived: the Conquering Beauties from the 5th through the 17th century: The Royal Concubines, Maitresses-en-titre. Edo-era Geisha, Korean kisaeng, and Italian Renaissance Courtesans.
China’s Treasured Courtesan: Su Xiaoxiao
China also celebrates historical courtesans who were particularly gifted in the arts. One of the most beloved of such women died over 1500 years ago.
Living at the tail end of the 5th century, Su Xiaoxiao (died c. 501 A.D.) was a famous courtesan and poet. Her fame as an intellectual courtesan-poet gives her a kinship with a courtesan who would not be born for over a thousand years after Su Xiaoxiao’s death, and would flourish as one of the most recognized courtesans of all time half a world away: Veronika Franko of Renaissance Venice. Both were valued for possessing the best of a courtesan’s virtues: their beauty was matched by exceptional intellect and a gift for poetic writing. However, some of the charms ascribed to Su Xiaoxiao – a heart bestowed with an ability to love and a deep sense of humanity, which her writing and anecdotes allegedly about her life are said to evince – are those also valued in the great courtesans of Edo-era Japan.
Continue reading . . .
posted by:
Veronika |
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Chapter 1: The Royal Concubines and Maitresses-en-titre: Stratospheric Careers and Slow Fades
From a Striptease on an Ancient Witness Stand to Drinking Pearls: The Courtesan’s Many Graces and Faces
Wherein we explore the lives and inspirational qualities of some of the most powerful women who ever lived: the Conquering Beauties from the 5th through the 17th century: The Royal Concubines, Maitresses-en-titre. Edo-era Geisha, Korean kisaeng, and Italian Renaissance Courtesans.
Wu Hou: from courtesan to empress, no matter what the cost
Like Theodora, the prostitute who crawled out from under the 6th century big top to become Empress, the 7th century Chinese woman Wu Hou (born 625; died 705) rose from being one among the myriad concubines bound to Tang emperor Taizong, who ruled from 626 to 649, to eventually become the empress of China during the Tang dynasty (618-907). She has the distinction of being the only woman in the history of China to assume the title of Emperor, ruling in all but name for many years, and finally in her own for the last fifteen (690-705).
Continue reading . . .
posted by:
Veronika |
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Part 6 of our essay on fantastical, mythological, and supernatural Muses
The Cheetah Woman: Our Secret Desires and Fetishes
Finally, I want to end this by considering the strange and controversial allure of Aimee Mullins’ part-woman/part-cheetah creature in the five-part film cycle, “The Cremaster Cycle,” produced in the early part of this decade by art world darling (and Bjork’s partner) Matthew Barney. For this films Barney assembled an eclectic cast: Normal Mailer, Ursula Andress, and Barney himself played key (if opaque) roles. Mullins, as she always does, struck an even sharper and more unsettling note, for she is a double amputee. Therefore, when Barney made her two cheetah legs for the third film, in a way he was starting from scratch. Is this the source of her allure? Her danger? There are those who argue that Mullins is exploited (this was especially the case when Alexander McQueen used her as a runway model; he countered by saying she was a stunning beauty, and that’s that – with more profanity thrown in), but I don’t think so. She is a model and an athlete, and she seems more than in control of her remarkable collaborations.
I recall an image fetish photographer Eric Kroll had on his web site of a very young girl (early 20’s probably), innocent-looking, fresh and pretty, and “normal” looking except that she had had one of her legs amputated. He once confided in me that she had received more marriage proposals – through his site – than any of his other models.
Continue reading . . .
posted by:
Veronika |
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Chapter 1: The Royal Concubines and Maitresses-en-titre: Stratospheric Careers and Slow Fades
From a Striptease on an Ancient Witness Stand to Drinking Pearls: The Courtesan’s Many Graces and Faces
Wherein we exploring the lives and inspirational qualities of some of the most powerful women who ever lived: the Conquering Beauties from the 5th through the 17th century: The Royal Concubines, Maitresses-en-titre. Edo-era Geisha, Korean kisaeng, and Italian Renaissance Courtesans.
Schooling in Courtesanship: Ninon de Lenclos and Her Own Court
Although never an official “royal mistress of a king,” one of the most remarkable and charismatic of courtesans of any age, Ninon d’Lenclos, had the distinction of ruling over her own court. Indeed, although she only met Louis XIV – the sovereign whose life overlapped with hers – one time, he was well aware of her bright mind and opinions, and is said to have asked his courtiers, when faced with a particularly perplexing political problem, “What does Ninon think?” Ninon was very different from royal mistresses like Athenais in that she maintained her independence throughout her long life of erotic conquests. She was a courtesan in the truest sense of the word: even when cavorting with royalty, she remained in control.
Continue reading . . .
posted by:
Veronika |
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