The content of these famous artist’s diaries from the Smithsonian’s Archives sure are more beautiful than the moody song lyrics I scribbled in my journal next to pictures of celebrities I ripped from teen magazines…

from hyperallergic:

From Vincent Van Gogh to Joseph Cornell, writing has always been a crucial part of the artist’s life. For some, it helps formulate a better conceptual understanding of works created through more mysterious, intuitive processes. For others, it’s a way to ruminate over source material — the highs and lows that fuel creative drive.

That may be why artists throughout history have been vigilant keepers of the diary, now the subject of an intriguing exhibition put on by the Smithsonian’s Archives of American Art. A Day in the Life: Artists’ Diaries from the Archives of American Art features 35 diaries kept by a wide range of artists between 1865 and 2001.

Read more.