Friday Links: Munch smudge, banned hands, and bookstore pets

Photographer: Robert Howlett | Isambard Kingdom Brunel, builder of the Great Eastern | ca. 1857-1858 | George Eastman House, eastmanhouse.org

Some stories we’ve been reading this week:

• To be honest, we weren’t aware of this “mystery,” but we’re glad it’s solved. Scientists finally figured out what caused a white smudge on the surface of Edvard Munch’s The Scream.
• You’re probably aware of photographer William Eggleston’s passion for color (take a look in Artstor if you need a refresher), but did you know about his passion for music?
• Facebook banned a very innocent drawing of a hand by Hans Holbein, so an art critic has helpfully come up with a list of more provocative hands in art.
• We dare you to resist clicking on this link: bookstore pets.
• We’d say it’s about time to bring back the lost art of custom-illustrating your favorite books.
• Very cool: new technology uncovers hidden pictures on “blank” pages of a pre-Colombian book.