go south.

dang it if it's not another book to buy. Economist has a good glimpse of this new one out from Martin Gayford, The Yellow House. The book is about what I have to imagine would be excellent fodder for a month long sellout at your local indie theater: the roomate-ship of Vincent Van Gogh and Paul Gauguin in southern France.

Southern France (don't give me "south of France" unless you also say North Carolina is in "south of America") has always (the one time i was there) struck me as quite similar to southern U.S.: awesome. Sunny, happy, warm disposition, wonderful, bright, and the summation of all things good. Van Gogh, wanting to paint out what the nature around him compelled, and not wanting his mind too much in the way, was naturally draw to get going a "southern school" of painting that exploited what beautiful Provence offered.

As the Economist column discusses, Van Gogh's heart contrasted to no small level with Gauguin's mindfulness. Also, Gauguin is quite often (likely correctly) regarded as a pompous prick.

That these two were roomates, complete with paintings dedicated to each other, is ripe for film. It's over ripe. It's a brown banana. For pete's sake, the whole ear episode. I look forward to the movie version of The Yellow House. I can then strike this one happily off my reading list.