I read the G.K. Chesterton novel and couldn’t help but notice the art references peppered throughout the novel. In this series of posts, I will put up passages from “Thursday” that use art and architecture to develop and describe a character/place, or use help the reader follow characters similar to the way a map guides a lost person.
“”A difference of artistic theory,” replied the Professor pensively. “Gogol was an idealist. He made up as the abstract or platonic ideal of an anarchist. But I am a realist. I am a portrait painter. But, indeed, to say that I am a portrait painter is an inadequate expression. I am a portrait.”
“I don’t understand you,” said Syme.
“I am a portrait,” repeated the Professor. “I am a portrait of the celebrated Professor de Worms, who is, I believe, in Naples.”
“You mean you are made up like him,” said Syme. “But doesn’t he know that you are taking his nose in vain?”
“He knows it right enough,” replied his friend cheerfully.
“Then why doesn’t he denounce you?”
“I have denounced him,” answered the Professor.”
Did Chesterton use the Hyperreality theory as a device?
Art History Ramblings 