‘Artists' Journeys That Shaped Our World' Review: Going Places, Seeing Things
Katsushika Hokusai (1760-1849) orbited Mount Fuji's sacred summit for years, painting the peak and the people living beneath it from dozens of locales. In works such as 'Ushibori in Hitachi Province' (ca. 1830-33, above), the mountain looms over its subjects like a watchful god. Hokusai was so moved by the sights he witnessed in his travels that he changed his name to Gakyō Rōjin Manji: 'The Old Man Crazy to Paint.' Equally mad about painting was Gustav Klimt (1862-1918), whose nocturnal wanderings around Austria's Lake Attersee led locals to dub him the Waldschrat ('forest demon'). The destination inspired his most innovative landscapes, in which nature devours a castle, the Schloss Kammer.
For the Flemish painter Alexander Keirincx (1600-52), British castles proved a muse after King Charles I commissioned him to paint the royal residences in Scotland and Yorkshire. Keirincx showed the countryside surrounding these stony manors bathed in a pastoral light—a vision that stoked the popular image of the British landscape as a mythic ideal and helped create the very British genre of house portraiture. This was the landscape, however, that David Hockney (1937-) sought to escape when he decamped for California in 1964, trading rainy Yorkshire for eternal summer in Los Angeles, where he would discover the motif of shimmering swimming pools that became his trademark.
Isamu Noguchi (1904-88) made a globe-trotting odyssey in pursuit of the lover who'd dumped him. Did he win her back? No. But he did see the ancient sculpture of four continents, whose influence greatly enlivened his work. Berthe Morisot's (1841-95) travels brought happier romantic tidings: In Normandy, she cultivated her plein-air technique as well as a relationship with Eugène Manet. The two were engaged while painting side by side. They honeymooned on Britain's Isle of Wight, which Morisot declared 'the prettiest place for painting.' Mr. Elborough's book makes a breezy companion to any summer wanderings.
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Panoramic carriages and unlimited champagne: Are these the best train journeys in the world?
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Pill case It's a good idea to bring along painkillers and other basic travel medication with you, especially if you're someone who has chronic pain. Whether you're travelling with Advil and Tums, or you're bringing along prescription medication, Huynh says a pill case can be very handy to have. 'You definitely want to bring your pills in your carry on, and those pill cases are very handy,' she says. Just make sure you have (or know) the instructions for how to take any medication you're bringing along with you. She also recommends labelling the pills - nwhich can also be helpful when going through security. Earbuds While earphones for a flight may be a given, Huynh specifically recommends travelling with a pair that has an audio jack, which she says many travellers often forget about. 'A lot of people either only have AirPods or bluetooth headphones with USB-C output,' she says. 'Not all airplanes have that. So if you want to watch movies or listen to music on the screen in front of your chair, you need earphones with an audio jack.' Compression socks Leg swelling, caused by fluid buildup, is common for older adults and can be exacerbated by sitting too long. While getting up and moving around can help, that's not always doable on a plane. You can also consider compression socks or stockings, which can help to improve blood flow and decrease pain and swelling in the legs. "A lot of people don't realize how much they're needed," says Huynh. "They're worth it." "If you're going on a flight for more than five hours, I would totally recommend it," she says. Water bottle It might seem obvious, but it's an important one. As adults age, drinking enough water is crucial — according to the U.S. National Council On Aging, dehydration is common among older adults. A reusable water bottle, then, is "100 per cent" a must-have when travelling says Huynh. Choosing a plastic version over a stainless steel bottle can also be easier for transporting, as it will be a lot lighter when full. "If you're bringing a water bottle, bring it empty and you can always refill it at the airport," she notes. Foldable backpack Huynh says she likes to bring along a foldable backpack for additional storage when she travels — which can be especially useful if you find it difficult to carry a single heavy bag. Huynh recommnds "one of those 20 litre-30 litre backpacks that folds into a bag," she says. "It packs up really small, in case I need to bring it anywhere. It's nice that it's compact." A foldable backpack can be a great item to have on hand if you find yourself needing some extra space in your luggage. It's also handy for using as you travel around in your destination. Sunscreen Sun protection is important at any age, but you'll definitely want to make sure you have some when you're 35,000 feet up in the air and sitting in a window seat. "Most people going on vacation, they're most likely not going anywhere cold," says Huynh. "Even then, the sun's always shining." She notes that if you are bringing sunscreen with you, make sure it fits within the limits of allowed liquids in your carry on luggage, or you'll have to keep it in your checked bag.
