diff --git a/commafeed-client/package-lock.json b/commafeed-client/package-lock.json
index dfb77cd3..06f3c7e7 100644
--- a/commafeed-client/package-lock.json
+++ b/commafeed-client/package-lock.json
@@ -23,6 +23,7 @@
                 "@reduxjs/toolkit": "^1.8.4",
                 "axios": "^0.27.2",
                 "dayjs": "^1.11.5",
+                "interweave": "^13.0.0",
                 "make-plural": "^7.1.0",
                 "mousetrap": "^1.6.5",
                 "react": "^18.2.0",
@@ -4583,6 +4584,11 @@
                 "node": ">=6"
             }
         },
+        "node_modules/escape-html": {
+            "version": "1.0.3",
+            "resolved": "https://registry.npmjs.org/escape-html/-/escape-html-1.0.3.tgz",
+            "integrity": "sha512-NiSupZ4OeuGwr68lGIeym/ksIZMJodUGOSCZ/FSnTxcrekbvqrgdUxlJOMpijaKZVjAJrWrGs/6Jy8OMuyj9ow=="
+        },
         "node_modules/escape-string-regexp": {
             "version": "1.0.5",
             "resolved": "https://registry.npmjs.org/escape-string-regexp/-/escape-string-regexp-1.0.5.tgz",
@@ -6114,6 +6120,21 @@
                 "node": ">= 0.4"
             }
         },
+        "node_modules/interweave": {
+            "version": "13.0.0",
+            "resolved": "https://registry.npmjs.org/interweave/-/interweave-13.0.0.tgz",
+            "integrity": "sha512-Mckwj+ix/VtrZu1bRBIIohwrsXj12ZTvJCoYUMZlJmgtvIaQCj0i77eSZ63ckbA1TsPrz2VOvLW9/kTgm5d+mw==",
+            "dependencies": {
+                "escape-html": "^1.0.3"
+            },
+            "funding": {
+                "type": "ko-fi",
+                "url": "https://ko-fi.com/milesjohnson"
+            },
+            "peerDependencies": {
+                "react": "^16.8.0 || ^17.0.0 || ^18.0.0"
+            }
+        },
         "node_modules/invariant": {
             "version": "2.2.4",
             "resolved": "https://registry.npmjs.org/invariant/-/invariant-2.2.4.tgz",
@@ -12886,6 +12907,11 @@
             "resolved": "https://registry.npmjs.org/escalade/-/escalade-3.1.1.tgz",
             "integrity": "sha512-k0er2gUkLf8O0zKJiAhmkTnJlTvINGv7ygDNPbeIsX/TJjGJZHuh9B2UxbsaEkmlEo9MfhrSzmhIlhRlI2GXnw=="
         },
+        "escape-html": {
+            "version": "1.0.3",
+            "resolved": "https://registry.npmjs.org/escape-html/-/escape-html-1.0.3.tgz",
+            "integrity": "sha512-NiSupZ4OeuGwr68lGIeym/ksIZMJodUGOSCZ/FSnTxcrekbvqrgdUxlJOMpijaKZVjAJrWrGs/6Jy8OMuyj9ow=="
+        },
         "escape-string-regexp": {
             "version": "1.0.5",
             "resolved": "https://registry.npmjs.org/escape-string-regexp/-/escape-string-regexp-1.0.5.tgz",
@@ -13992,6 +14018,14 @@
                 "side-channel": "^1.0.4"
             }
         },
+        "interweave": {
+            "version": "13.0.0",
+            "resolved": "https://registry.npmjs.org/interweave/-/interweave-13.0.0.tgz",
+            "integrity": "sha512-Mckwj+ix/VtrZu1bRBIIohwrsXj12ZTvJCoYUMZlJmgtvIaQCj0i77eSZ63ckbA1TsPrz2VOvLW9/kTgm5d+mw==",
+            "requires": {
+                "escape-html": "^1.0.3"
+            }
+        },
         "invariant": {
             "version": "2.2.4",
             "resolved": "https://registry.npmjs.org/invariant/-/invariant-2.2.4.tgz",
diff --git a/commafeed-client/package.json b/commafeed-client/package.json
index b851b88e..9558aa79 100644
--- a/commafeed-client/package.json
+++ b/commafeed-client/package.json
@@ -30,6 +30,7 @@
         "@reduxjs/toolkit": "^1.8.4",
         "axios": "^0.27.2",
         "dayjs": "^1.11.5",
+        "interweave": "^13.0.0",
         "make-plural": "^7.1.0",
         "mousetrap": "^1.6.5",
         "react": "^18.2.0",
diff --git a/commafeed-client/src/app/constants.ts b/commafeed-client/src/app/constants.ts
index 0f2f11c2..680c7e80 100644
--- a/commafeed-client/src/app/constants.ts
+++ b/commafeed-client/src/app/constants.ts
@@ -89,6 +89,7 @@ export const Constants = {
         mobileBreakpoint: DEFAULT_THEME.breakpoints.md,
         headerHeight: 60,
         sidebarWidth: 350,
+        entryMaxWidth: 650,
         isTopVisible: (div: HTMLDivElement) => div.getBoundingClientRect().top >= Constants.layout.headerHeight,
         isBottomVisible: (div: HTMLDivElement) => div.getBoundingClientRect().bottom <= window.innerHeight,
     },
diff --git a/commafeed-client/src/app/utils.ts b/commafeed-client/src/app/utils.ts
index 7d9cf323..6a0d32a8 100644
--- a/commafeed-client/src/app/utils.ts
+++ b/commafeed-client/src/app/utils.ts
@@ -19,3 +19,9 @@ export function categoryUnreadCount(category?: Category): number {
         .map(f => f.unread)
         .reduce((total, current) => total + current, 0)
 }
+
+export const calculatePlaceholderSize = ({ width, height, maxWidth }: { width?: number; height?: number; maxWidth: number }) => {
+    const placeholderWidth = width && Math.min(width, maxWidth)
+    const placeholderHeight = height && width && width > maxWidth ? height * (maxWidth / width) : height
+    return { width: placeholderWidth, height: placeholderHeight }
+}
diff --git a/commafeed-client/src/components/ImageWithPlaceholderWhileLoading.tsx b/commafeed-client/src/components/ImageWithPlaceholderWhileLoading.tsx
new file mode 100644
index 00000000..5bde1400
--- /dev/null
+++ b/commafeed-client/src/components/ImageWithPlaceholderWhileLoading.tsx
@@ -0,0 +1,51 @@
+import { Box, Center, createStyles } from "@mantine/core"
+import { useState } from "react"
+import { TbPhoto } from "react-icons/tb"
+
+interface ImageWithPlaceholderWhileLoadingProps {
+    src?: string
+    alt?: string
+    title?: string
+    width?: number
+    height?: number | "auto"
+    placeholderWidth?: number
+    placeholderHeight?: number
+}
+
+const useStyles = createStyles((theme, props: ImageWithPlaceholderWhileLoadingProps) => ({
+    placeholder: {
+        width: props.placeholderWidth ?? 400,
+        height: props.placeholderHeight ?? 600,
+        maxWidth: "100%",
+        color: theme.fn.variant({ color: theme.primaryColor, variant: "subtle" }).color,
+        backgroundColor: theme.colorScheme === "dark" ? theme.colors.dark[5] : theme.colors.gray[1],
+    },
+}))
+
+export function ImageWithPlaceholderWhileLoading(props: ImageWithPlaceholderWhileLoadingProps) {
+    const { classes } = useStyles(props)
+    const [loading, setLoading] = useState(true)
+
+    return (
+        <>
+            {loading && (
+                <Box>
+                    <Center className={classes.placeholder}>
+                        <div>
+                            <TbPhoto size={48} />
+                        </div>
+                    </Center>
+                </Box>
+            )}
+            <img
+                src={props.src}
+                alt={props.alt}
+                title={props.title}
+                width={props.width}
+                height={props.height}
+                onLoad={() => setLoading(false)}
+                style={{ display: loading ? "none" : "block" }}
+            />
+        </>
+    )
+}
diff --git a/commafeed-client/src/components/content/Content.tsx b/commafeed-client/src/components/content/Content.tsx
index 82aff853..c89e61aa 100644
--- a/commafeed-client/src/components/content/Content.tsx
+++ b/commafeed-client/src/components/content/Content.tsx
@@ -1,4 +1,8 @@
-import { createStyles, Text, TypographyStylesProvider } from "@mantine/core"
+import { Box, createStyles, TypographyStylesProvider } from "@mantine/core"
+import { Constants } from "app/constants"
+import { calculatePlaceholderSize } from "app/utils"
+import { ImageWithPlaceholderWhileLoading } from "components/ImageWithPlaceholderWhileLoading"
+import { Interweave, TransformCallback } from "interweave"
 
 export interface ContentProps {
     content: string
@@ -11,10 +15,6 @@ const useStyles = createStyles(theme => ({
         "& a": {
             color: theme.fn.variant({ color: theme.primaryColor, variant: "subtle" }).color,
         },
-        "& img": {
-            maxWidth: "100%",
-            height: "auto",
-        },
         "& iframe": {
             maxWidth: "100%",
         },
@@ -24,11 +24,42 @@ const useStyles = createStyles(theme => ({
     },
 }))
 
+const transform: TransformCallback = node => {
+    if (node.tagName === "IMG") {
+        // show placeholders for loading img tags, this allows the entry to have its final height immediately
+        const src = node.getAttribute("src") ?? undefined
+        const alt = node.getAttribute("alt") ?? undefined
+        const title = node.getAttribute("title") ?? undefined
+        const width = node.getAttribute("width") ? parseInt(node.getAttribute("width")!, 10) : undefined
+        const height = node.getAttribute("height") ? parseInt(node.getAttribute("height")!, 10) : undefined
+        const placeholderSize = calculatePlaceholderSize({
+            width,
+            height,
+            maxWidth: Constants.layout.entryMaxWidth,
+        })
+        return (
+            <ImageWithPlaceholderWhileLoading
+                src={src}
+                alt={alt}
+                title={title}
+                width={width}
+                height="auto"
+                placeholderWidth={placeholderSize.width}
+                placeholderHeight={placeholderSize.height}
+            />
+        )
+    }
+    return undefined
+}
+
 export function Content(props: ContentProps) {
     const { classes } = useStyles()
+
     return (
         <TypographyStylesProvider>
-            <Text size="md" className={classes.content} dangerouslySetInnerHTML={{ __html: props.content }} />
+            <Box className={classes.content}>
+                <Interweave content={props.content} transform={transform} />
+            </Box>
         </TypographyStylesProvider>
     )
 }
diff --git a/commafeed-client/src/components/content/Enclosure.tsx b/commafeed-client/src/components/content/Enclosure.tsx
index 5b6641b2..46bb9c18 100644
--- a/commafeed-client/src/components/content/Enclosure.tsx
+++ b/commafeed-client/src/components/content/Enclosure.tsx
@@ -1,19 +1,13 @@
-import { createStyles } from "@mantine/core"
-
-const useStyles = createStyles(() => ({
-    enclosureImage: {
-        maxWidth: "100%",
-        height: "auto",
-    },
-}))
+import { TypographyStylesProvider } from "@mantine/core"
+import { ImageWithPlaceholderWhileLoading } from "components/ImageWithPlaceholderWhileLoading"
 
 export function Enclosure(props: { enclosureType?: string; enclosureUrl?: string }) {
-    const { classes } = useStyles()
     const hasVideo = props.enclosureType && props.enclosureType.indexOf("video") === 0
     const hasAudio = props.enclosureType && props.enclosureType.indexOf("audio") === 0
     const hasImage = props.enclosureType && props.enclosureType.indexOf("image") === 0
+
     return (
-        <>
+        <TypographyStylesProvider>
             {hasVideo && (
                 // eslint-disable-next-line jsx-a11y/media-has-caption
                 <video controls>
@@ -26,7 +20,7 @@ export function Enclosure(props: { enclosureType?: string; enclosureUrl?: string
                     <source src={props.enclosureUrl} type={props.enclosureType} />
                 </audio>
             )}
-            {hasImage && <img src={props.enclosureUrl} alt="enclosure" className={classes.enclosureImage} />}
-        </>
+            {hasImage && <ImageWithPlaceholderWhileLoading src={props.enclosureUrl} alt="enclosure" />}
+        </TypographyStylesProvider>
     )
 }
diff --git a/commafeed-client/src/components/content/FeedEntry.tsx b/commafeed-client/src/components/content/FeedEntry.tsx
index ddb8e9a6..793d09dd 100644
--- a/commafeed-client/src/components/content/FeedEntry.tsx
+++ b/commafeed-client/src/components/content/FeedEntry.tsx
@@ -29,7 +29,7 @@ const useStyles = createStyles((theme, props: FeedEntryProps) => {
             },
         },
         body: {
-            maxWidth: "650px",
+            maxWidth: Constants.layout.entryMaxWidth,
         },
     }
 })
diff --git a/commafeed-client/src/components/content/Media.tsx b/commafeed-client/src/components/content/Media.tsx
index 010ab622..231136e1 100644
--- a/commafeed-client/src/components/content/Media.tsx
+++ b/commafeed-client/src/components/content/Media.tsx
@@ -1,4 +1,7 @@
-import { Box, createStyles } from "@mantine/core"
+import { Box, TypographyStylesProvider } from "@mantine/core"
+import { Constants } from "app/constants"
+import { calculatePlaceholderSize } from "app/utils"
+import { ImageWithPlaceholderWhileLoading } from "components/ImageWithPlaceholderWhileLoading"
 import { Content } from "./Content"
 
 export interface MediaProps {
@@ -8,29 +11,29 @@ export interface MediaProps {
     description?: string
 }
 
-const useStyles = createStyles(() => ({
-    image: {
-        maxWidth: "100%",
-        height: "auto",
-    },
-}))
-
 export function Media(props: MediaProps) {
-    const { classes } = useStyles()
+    const width = props.thumbnailWidth
+    const height = props.thumbnailHeight
+    const placeholderSize = calculatePlaceholderSize({
+        width,
+        height,
+        maxWidth: Constants.layout.entryMaxWidth,
+    })
     return (
-        <>
-            <img
-                className={classes.image}
+        <TypographyStylesProvider>
+            <ImageWithPlaceholderWhileLoading
                 src={props.thumbnailUrl}
+                alt="media thumbnail"
                 width={props.thumbnailWidth}
                 height={props.thumbnailHeight}
-                alt="media thumbnail"
+                placeholderWidth={placeholderSize.width}
+                placeholderHeight={placeholderSize.height}
             />
             {props.description && (
                 <Box pt="md">
                     <Content content={props.description} />
                 </Box>
             )}
-        </>
+        </TypographyStylesProvider>
     )
 }
diff --git a/commafeed-server/config.dev.yml b/commafeed-server/config.dev.yml
index e98bdb7a..ecbfc2cb 100644
--- a/commafeed-server/config.dev.yml
+++ b/commafeed-server/config.dev.yml
@@ -50,7 +50,7 @@ app:
   
   # if enabled, images in feed entries will be proxied through the server instead of accessed directly by the browser
   # useful if commafeed is usually accessed through a restricting proxy  
-  imageProxyEnabled: false
+  imageProxyEnabled: true
   
   # database query timeout (in milliseconds), 0 to disable
   queryTimeout: 0