Lapham's Quarterly

de bene esse: literally, of well-being, morally acceptable but subject to future validation or exception

NEW: The skull is a familiar memento mori, but as Colin Dickey explains, during the Second World War it also became a controversial souvenir.

Human Trophies

laphamsquarterly.org

Her hair is perfectly styled, pinned up behind her with a huge flower. She wears a blazer, rests her chin on her left hand while her right hand holds a poised pen.