We started a conversation some days ago on baymoo about the nature of the ‘true artist’. It began with a comment about the ‘true artist’ never questioning the pursuit of art. I said it sounds like a rich white man’s definition of a nice life. So 19th century. Anyway, we had a fun time arguing with that statement, and today, this:

Message 9154 on *Chatter (#3100):
Date: Fri Apr 13 17:51:19 2001 PDT
From: Alan (#22860)
To: *Chatter (#3100)
Subject: Just had to share

‘The true artist will let his wife starve, his children go barefoot,
his mother drudge for his living at seventy, sooner than work at
anything but his art.’

George Bernard Shaw put that into his play “Man and Superman” back in
1903. Here was somebody who truly believed in Art. And in the ability of
Man to create it.

Hildegarde rolls on the floor, laughing until her stomach aches.