The Sunday Digest 113
"It's not bad at all, really. Maybe it just needs a little love."
Welcome to The Sunday Digest — a free Sunday newsletter featuring long (and some short) reads, original columns, things I’ve saved over the last week, relaxing playlists, episodes releases, exclusive product drops, and more. Yes, you can reply to this email. I’d love to hear from you. Or, if podcasts are more your speed on Sundays, we’ve got that too.
Sunday Watch › A December Sunrise at Blackberry Farm
I’ve been a background noise person for a long time now. While I’ve flowed from soccer highlights to concerts to surf compilations, where I’ve always ended up these days is simple, relaxing videos. After filming the sunset over Lake Como late this summer, I’ve revisited it myself several times since.
Wanting to do the same a couple weeks ago, I decided to wake up early, make a fire, and film the sunrise from our porch while in Tennessee. While it was a tad too cold to enjoy it myself from the porch, I’m glad I now have this.
Sunday Read › The Search for van Gogh’s Lost Masterpiece
by Michael Forsythe, Graham Bowley, and Elisabetta Povoledo for The New York Times
In somewhat unrelated news, I’ve somehow fallen into getting a daily physical copy of The New York Times to my doorstep. I used to get physical copies just on Sundays (partially to use for fires), but they stopped showing up about a month ago. In an effort to remedy this, I brought it to the attention of their customer service and I think they’ve made an error along the way. Do I need a daily copy? Probably not. Does it kind of make me feel like I’m eating breakfast at a hotel when I have it in front of me? Maybe a bit too much.
Either way, this was the first full piece that I read once this began occurring. It’s probably because my dad bought me a print from a museum when I was young (or because he’s the most famous painter in history), but I’ve always loved van Gogh more than most other artists. Chalk, I know, but this story did nothing to quell the infatuation.
Here’s an excerpt from this week’s read:
Painted in the garden of the artist’s physician in June 1890, it was completed just weeks before van Gogh’s suicide by gunshot. The sense of melancholy radiating from the doctor conveys, van Gogh wrote to his friend Paul Gauguin, the “heartbroken expression of our time.” Considered to be among his masterpieces, it may now be worth $300 million, or more, experts say.
For much of the 20th century, “Portrait of Dr. Gachet” was prominently displayed at the Städel Museum in Frankfurt and the Metropolitan Museum of Art in New York, to which it was lent by a private collector before the 1990 sale.
But it has all but disappeared since that day at Christie’s, and its whereabouts have become one of the art world’s greatest mysteries.
Read in full here.
The Sunday Haiku: Diet Starts Next Year
Eggnog in coffee,
and pumpkin pie for breakfast,
there aren’t any rules.
New Episode › Retail Therapy 099: Matt Pham’s Beginner’s Mind
Today we welcome Matt Pham of With A Beginner’s Mind to talk about how he started his brand, his career history with John Elliott, inspiration behind some of his products, the future of With A Beginner’s Mind, the imposter syndrome of being creative, noodle boys, how Matt spends his Sundays, and some wishlist items.
Listen to Retail Therapy on Spotify, Apple Podcasts, YouTube (see above), and anywhere else podcasts are found. And a reminder to follow Retail Therapy on Substack!
Things I Saved This Week
Reminder: Scenes of Note Zine
Well, I’ve spent more time shipping these than I anticipated but that’s an absolutely wonderful problem to have. James and I have been so thrilled with the reception and feedback we’ve gotten. Looks like it’s time to plan some 2025 trips for Volume 2, eh?
We’ve still got some available and I’ll be shipping them over the holidays, so don’t hesitate to buy one even if it won’t necessarily arrive before Christmas. Thanks to all who have already purchased!
“How can I support Sunday Scaries?”
Listen to our Retail Therapy.
Subscribe to our YouTube channel.
Subscribe to all Washed Media Podcasts.
Or, you can simply subscribe here:
Just wanted to point out that the most famous painter in art history is probably Picasso. It was just a friendly note, apart from that I love your substack account, very original and amusing content, so thanks for that.