Welcome to Friday,
Here are five things I thought worth sharing this week.
One of the unpredicted aspects of living in Europe has been an appreciation and understanding of art history growing alongside my exploration of European history. Art is so intertwined with the history of this area, learning about famous painters and sculptures is basically a consequence of learning history. This piece, “I Like Eyck,” celebrates the beauty of the painter’s rich hues. In seeing Jan van Eyck’s work, I was stunned by how realistic, soft, and lush the fabrics on his pieces appeared.
Mexico’s underwater caves and cenotes are a Paleolithic time capsule. Looking at the stunning rock formations, it’s hardly surprising the Maya considered these regions the dwelling places of deities.
William Burroughs on walking on color.
“The New York Tribute reported a single ship that steamed into New York Harbor with 50,000 blank postcards in its cargo hold.” As personal postcards began gaining popularity in the early 1900s, a trend of taking portraits with books developed. This compilation is familiar, yet theatrical.
A glutton is confronted by his doctor to either change his ways or die early; the result was Luigi Cornaro’s Sure and Certain Methods of Attaining a Long and Healthful Life (1722 edition), a text considered by Nietzsche to be the second most harmful book in existence, the first being the Bible, of course.
Currently reading: Dracula by Bram Stoker
Have a great weekend.
Image: Scene in Berkshire County, Massachusetts. Williamson, John. American. circa 1880.
