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Fumée d'ambre gris (Smoke of Ambergris)
(media.clarkart.edu)
John Singer Sargent
oil on canvas
1880
Clark Art Institute
An inordinate love of ritual can be harmful to the soul, unless, of course, in times of great crisis, when ritual can protect the soul from fracture.” Thus passes into silence one of the most influential and mysterious characters in the history of Ambergris
Is this from the Vandermeer book?
Yeah. « City of Saints and Madmen » Reminded me of the pic on a few levels
Definitely. I didn't even know ambergris was a thing outside the book. Gross word, ok book tho. I wish there would a been more about the mushroom-people cult. And this painting definitely gives me mushroom-people vibes.
It’s also a really gross substance! Gross all around. Apparently very important and expensive, but gross.