Subject
[NABOKOV-L] Artificial Paradises
From
Date
Body
Baudelaire's "Invitation au Voyage" inspired a painting by Henri Matisse (the title came from Baudelaire's lines on "luxe, calme e volupté", perhaps the same that describe, in ADA, Villa Venus and "volupty"). I append a reproduction of his vision which surprised me because of Matisse's hot colors that lurked in its rainbow-hues.
My dreamt-afterlife paradise is similar to tropical Rio's beaches all in blue, green and crystal radiance. Never orange and pink but "vair", perhaps like silly Flora's stereotypes: "She saw their travels in terms of adverts and a long talcum-white beach with the tropical breeze tossing the palms and her hair..."
Wilde, perhaps, admired "the orange awnings of southern summers" and the long "orange sunbursts" - like Matisse.
Shade alternated Flemish-infernal travels led by seraphs with "flamingo wings" and the greenish peripatetic talks in "cypress walks..." but IF (or IPH) sported no black yew ( like Plath) but alpine summits and a white fountain.
Van Veen's paradise was Ardis? With its rivers, underwater cities and orchids and Ada, Ada and childhood.
To each his particular paradise and not only a private hell??? Never before did I consciously entertain the image of colored paradises...
.
Search archive with Google:
http://www.google.com/advanced_search?q=site:listserv.ucsb.edu&HL=en
Contact the Editors: mailto:nabokv-l@utk.edu,nabokv-l@holycross.edu
Visit Zembla: http://www.libraries.psu.edu/nabokov/zembla.htm
View Nabokv-L policies: http://web.utk.edu/~sblackwe/EDNote.htm
Visit "Nabokov Online Journal:" http://www.nabokovonline.com
Manage subscription options: http://listserv.ucsb.edu/
