‘Riding the Lines’: The Poetics of the ‘Chevauchements’ in Henri Michaux’s Drug Experiments
Palgrave Macmillan UK eBooks January 1, 2015 Mathieu Perrot 1 citation
In 1954, at age 55, the Belgian poet and painter Henri Michaux—already known for his travel accounts, fictional ethnographies, and poetry—began systematically exploring the effects of illegal drugs, including LSD 25, psilocybin, and cannabis, on his impressions and artistic expressions. He wrote five poetic essays, starting with Misérable Miracle (1972), which included 48 drawings made while intoxicated. A year later, Michaux proposed that all scholars try narcotics, arguing they open onto a specific type of knowledge not accessible to the sober mind.