Absinthe’s Influence on Art
Absinthe was once widely available legal spirit that contributed to Parisian society during the Belle Epoque era. Dubbed “the Green Fairy or Goddess”, absinthe became an integral part of bohemian artists and writers’ daily routine, so much so that five o’clock became known as the Green Hour! Absinthe formed friendships or broke them off while inspiring dream-like states that eventually manifested into artistic works such as Symbolism, Surrealism Modernism or Impressionism.
Artists Henri de Toulouse-Lautrec and Edouard Manet both consumed absinthe recreationally, often depicting themselves and their friends enjoying it while painting scenes of them doing so. Others such as young Picasso incorporated it into their artwork anyway – for instance in paintings such as Woman Drinking Absinthe 1901 and Absinthe Drinker.
Absinthe was so beloved, it inspired an entire genre of music: Buveuse d’Absinthe or Drunken Girl music was popular during its heyday and combined harmonies and dissonances with distorted lyrics to form this genre of sound. Modern bands like Kasabian and Marilyn Manson continue using this musical style within their songs today.