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| Letter from Vincent van Gogh to Theo van Gogh
(12-15 October 1881)
... day or so, I am
replying right away.
I'm so glad you've sent the Ingres paper. I've still got
some left, but not the right colour.
I was happy to hear what Mr. Tersteeg said about my
drawings, and certainly no less glad that you saw progress
yourself in the sketches I sent you. If it is indeed so, I mean
to work to such an effect that neither you nor Mr. T. will have
any reason to take back your more favourable opinions. I shall
do my very best not to let you down.
The artist always comes up against resistance from nature in
the beginning, but if he really takes her seriously he will not
be put off by that opposition, on the contrary, it is all the
more incentive to win her over - at heart, nature and the
honest draughtsman are as one. (Nature is most certainly
“intangible,” yet one must come to grips with her
and do so with a firm hand.) And having wrestled and struggled
with nature for some time now, I find her more yielding and
submissive, not that I have... | Letter from Vincent van Gogh to Theo van Gogh
(c. 11 March 1882)
... I am a drudge or a
plodding draft ox.
Do not forget the Ingres paper when you come. It is
especially the thick kind that I like to use and which I
think must also be good for studies in watercolour.
Believe me, in art matters the saying, “Honesty is the
best policy,” is true; rather more trouble on a serious
study than a kind of chic to flatter the public. Sometimes in
moments of worry I have longed for some of that chic, but
thinking it over I say, No, let me be true to myself, and
express severe, rough but true things in a rough manner. I
shall not run after the art lovers or dealers; let whoever
wants to come to me. In due time we shall reap, if we faint
not!
Say, Theo, what a big man Millet was! I borrowed Sensier's
great work from De Bock; it interests me so much that I wake up
at night and light the lamp and sit up to read. For I must work
in the daytime.
Do send me some money soon, if possible. I wish Tersteeg had
to live for a week on... | Letter from Vincent van Gogh to Theo van Gogh
(early April 1882)
... handshake
Yours sincerely, Vincent
My thanks for the package of splendid Ingres paper and for
the studies. Perhaps someday when people begin to say that I
can draw a little but not paint, I shall suddenly come out with
a picture at a moment when they least expect it. But I
certainly won't as long as it looks as though I were
obliged to, and as though I must not do something
else.
There are two ways of thinking about painting, how not to do
it and how to do it: how to do it - with much drawing
and little colour; how not to do it - with much colour
and little drawing.
... | Letter from Vincent van Gogh to Theo van Gogh
(3-12 May 1882)
... sure you will
see this for yourself.
The paper I should really like best is that on which the
female figure bending forward is drawn ,
but if possible the colour of unbleached linen. I
don't have any of it left in that thickness. I believe
they call it double Ingres. I can't get any more of it
here. When you see how that drawing is done, you'll understand
that the thin stuff is hardly able to take it. I wanted to send
you a small figure in black merino as well, but I can't roll
it. The chair near the large figure isn't finished, because I
want an old oak chair there .
* Small wonder she wasn't well, the child was in the wrong
position and she needed an operation, that is, the child had to
be turned round with forceps. But there is a good chance that
she will pull through. She is due to give birth in
June.
... | Letter from Vincent van Gogh to Theo van Gogh
(4 July 1882)
... sympathy for Sien, as she deserves it.
Another thing…do you think you could get some more of
that Ingres paper as thick as the enclosed sample, but with a
little more tone? If so, bring it along when you come, together
with those of my sketches which you do not care to keep. Of
course I hope that you will keep “Sorrow” and the
best ones, especially the large “Sorrow,” for
yourself.
Adieu, with a handshake,
Yours sincerely, Vincent
... |
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