2 May

Born in 1921 – Satyajit Ray, Indian filmmaker.

Above: Still from Ray’s 1955 film, Pather Panchali.

Also, born in 1729, Catherine the Great of Russia.

“You philosophers are lucky men. You write on paper and paper is patient. Unfortunate Empress that I am, I write on the susceptible skins of living beings.”

—Catherine, in a letter to Denis Diderot