Effects of absinthe, a popular drink amongst artists turn of the century
 

See Van Gogh's still-life of a glass of absinthe below. If only he knew.
Here's a press release from the University of California at Berkeley:

http://www.berkeley.edu/news/media/r...-22-2000a.html

Or, in case they take it off later:

Infamous "van Gogh" beverage contains potent toxin with
curious brain effects, UC Berkeley scientists discover
22 Mar 2000

By Kathleen Scalise, Public Affairs

BERKELEY -- Long suspected to have contributed to psychoses, fits and
hallucinations in such famous artists and writers as van Gogh, Poe and Baudelaire,
the liqueur absinthe they cherished contained a potent toxin that UC Berkeley
scientists now say causes neurons to seriously malfunction.

The researchers report their findings in this week's edition of the journal,
Proceedings of the National Academy of Sciences.

"Based on what we've discovered, large consumption of old absinthe would have
greatly disrupted the nervous system," said scientist John Casida, a UC Berkeley
professor of environmental chemistry and toxicology. "Our findings could explain
many of the symptoms described in the literature."

Casida said it was not previously known how the neurotoxin alpha-thujone, found
not only in absinthe but also in many popular herbal medicines, acted on the body
to bring about poisoning or whether the mechanism could account for strange
behaviors noted in many 19th century absinthe drinkers. Vincent van Gogh, Edgar
Allen Poe and Charles Baudelaire were among them.

The UC Berkeley researchers discovered that alpha-thujone acts on the same
brain receptor responsible for a form of epilepsy. The receptor controls the
chloride channel that regulates excitation and keeps neurons under control.

"Basically, alpha-thujone blocks the channel and allows the neurons to fire too
easily," said UC Berkeley postdoctoral researcher Karin H

A drink to be avoided at all costs!

Some friends brought me some (a dubious thank you present) back from Slovakia, lethal stuff! Possibly we could blame the disintegration of realist art upon this drink. The effects would certainly lead to different way of viewing the world!!

It's also extraordinarily complicated to drink, involving a process reminiscent of the school chemistry lab. Anyone else been foolish enough to try it?!

Poor VanGogh.... After painting with heavily leaded paint (Flake White) by day it seems that he drank absinthe at night...

Lead is a neurotoxic metallic element that can be absorbed by the body, primarily through the lungs and stomach, and through the skin. It has some nasty symptoms including fatigue, serious depression, and heart failure.

I wonder what roles these toxins played in his sufferings?

Brain damage from solvents, too!
 

And to top it off, artists have long inhaled the fumes from good old English turpentine which is known to cause permanent brain damage!

Well
 

I think dear ole Vinny had his share of issues before he became a friend of absinthe. I think he was one sweet guy that sure needed some reliable help...more than Theo could give. But what exciting works we have from his suffering; who is more original or recognizable?

The subject of absinthe is quite interesting when we compare it with today's mind bending drugs. The artists and other patrons of saloons seemed to enjoy abusing absinthe. Was there an outcry against absinthe even then? Artists recorded various facets of absinthe use. Why? I remember the 60's drug art and all. But, nowadays I don't see too much demand for artworks depicting the crack idled junky as being romantic. Is it all just about perspective?

This sounds like a challenge. How to depict the use of drugs like crack as being romantic? So romantic as to get a patron to part with their money for a painting depicting it's use? Ah, those were the days. By the way, didn't I recall reading somewhere that Vincent sometimes put the paint loaded end of his brush in his mouth? Yummy! Lead, mercury and arsenic to mention a few. Yikes! Heavy (metal) competition for lowly old absinthe. Hey! where did the expression "mad as a hatter" come from? My point? It's all bad.

Well, as far as putting paintbrushes loaded with paint (lead white) along with the other colors; nearly every artist I've ever heard spoken of at length has been said to do this. As someone who has done this once, it's hard to do twice. Muscle rub instead of toothpaste sort of experience...it's hard to not become very cautious and practice care-unless you're mixing absinthe into your wine.