Picasso
"Absinthe"
No, I haven't had too much cold medicine. Actually, I'm feeling much better after lazing around the house, reading and wasting time on things like fairy websites.
I found these old illustrations for absinthe on The Fairy Room. This highly alcoholic drink is banned in most Western countries, but it was once romanticized by writers and artists who believed it was part of the creative process. The drink is even credited with shaping the Age of Impressionism. Picasso created many pieces "inspired" by the effects of absinthe.
The idea that absinthe causes hallucinations is a myth, and the visions were probably the result of alcoholism brought on by drinking too much 70 proof booze. Because of absinthe's use wormwood, associated with enchantment, the advertisements featured seductive green fairies temping the drinker into a bleary state of bliss. These same advertisements were used later to ban the drink.
"A glass of absinthe is as poetical
as anything in the world,
what difference is there
between a glass of absinthe and a sunset?"
Oscar Wilde
Oh well, Oscar is not remembered for his love of nature. On seeing Niagara Falls for the first time, he also famously said: But what does it DO?
Have a good weekend, and stay away from bottles of green stuff.
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