Letter from Vincent van Gogh to Theo van Gogh (c. 5 April 1889) ... fiancée all
happiness these days. It is a sort of nervous affliction with
me that on festive occasions I generally find difficulty in
formulating good wishes, but you must not conclude from that
that I wish you happiness less earnestly than anyone else, as
you well know.
I have still to thank you for your last letter,
Letter from Vincent van Gogh to Theo van Gogh (c. 21 April 1889) ... this month or the beginning
of May.
Beginning again that painter's life I have been living,
isolated in the studio so often, and without any other means of
distraction than going to a café or a restaurant
with all the neighbors criticizing, etc., I
can't face it; going to live with another
person, say another artist - difficult, very difficult - it's
taking too much responsibility on oneself. I dare not even
think of it.
So let's try it three months to begin with, and afterward we
shall see. Now one's board ought to be about 80 francs, and I
shall do a little painting and drawing without putting such
frenzy into it as a year ago. Do not be grieved at all this.
Certainly these last days were sad, with all the moving, taking
away all my furniture, packing up the canvases that are going
to you, but the thing I felt saddest about was that you had
given me all these things with such brotherly love, and that
for so many years you were always the one who supported...