Althouse: "Eat well, be well housed, have a screw from time to time, smoke your pipe and drink your coffee in peace."

September 26, 2007

"Eat well, be well housed, have a screw from time to time, smoke your pipe and drink your coffee in peace."

How to do good work, by Vincent Van Gogh.

10 comments:

Bob said...: I think that many humans would be happy with that state of affairs.; 9/26/07, 7:06 AM
Trooper York said...: Wow, who knew that Vincent Van Gogh and Whitney Houston lived by the same rules...."Bobeeee where the pipe at"; 9/26/07, 9:22 AM
Maxine Weiss said...: Althouse, a woman who bows down and worships all art (even bad art!).... should be able to separate and distinguish...an artist's uncouth conduct in his personal life....from his superior work-product.; 9/26/07, 10:47 AM
David Walser said...: Just how wise is it to accept advice from Van Gogh on how to live life well? He did outstanding work and artists can learn a lot of good things by examining his technique, but not much good would come from mimicking his lifestyle.; 9/26/07, 10:58 AM
Sigivald said...: None of that advice really reflects his "lifestyle" as such, though.

General comfort, some relxation, and simple pleasures do seem like a decent recipe for producing good works.

One need not (indeed, probably should not, if one has a choice) be "tortured" (as in "a ... artist") in order to produce good works of art or craft.

(Hell, what's even "uncouth" about the quote, other than mentioning having sex now and then in a vaguely coarse manner? If that's it, that's nothing.); 9/26/07, 1:03 PM
blake said...: P.S. Stay away from the lead-based paints. I can't stress that enough.

Groetjes, VvG; 9/26/07, 2:38 PM
LTC John said...: Sounds good to me... But Vincent, may I call you that? Vincent, you left the part about a close shave out!; 9/26/07, 5:01 PM
M. Simon said...: have a screw from time to time

From 6 to 8 would be good.; 9/26/07, 6:19 PM
The Monster said...: "have a screw from time to time"

Just a matter of time before someone says "Can't you leave Bill Clinton alone!"; 9/27/07, 10:17 AM
submandave said...: Sigivald, I'm amazed you failed to imediately spot the element so lacking in "couth":

"smoke your pipe"

It's the evil tobacco to which the dear maxine obviously refers.; 9/27/07, 12:11 PM