Letter from Vincent van Gogh to Theo van Gogh (c. 13 July 1888) ... of this constant mistral, not to mention that I have
spent whole days outside with a little bread and milk, since it
was too far to go back to the town every once in a while.
I have already said more than once how much the Camargue and
the Crau, except for the difference in colour and in the
clearness of the atmosphere, remind me of the old Holland of
Ruysdael's time. I think that these two I've spoken of, the
flat countryside covered with vines and stubble fields, seen
from a height, will give you an idea of it.
Believe me I am tired out by these drawings. I have begun a
painting as well, but there is no way of doing it with the
mistral blowing - there's absolutely nothing doing.
Letter from Vincent van Gogh to Theo van Gogh (8 October 1888) ... - not sent)
My dear Theo,
Thanks for your letter, but I have had a very
thin time of it these days, as my money ran out on Thursday, so it was a
damnably long time till Monday noon. These four days I have
lived mainly on 23 cups of coffee, with bread which I still
have to pay for. It's not your fault, it's mine if it's
anyone's. Because I was wild to see my pictures in frames, and
I had ordered too many for my budget, seeing that the month's
rent and the charwoman also had to be paid. And even today is
going to drain me dry,
Letter from Vincent van Gogh to Theo van Gogh (24 October 1888) ... to prepare the
canvas ourselves. For a while I had a
feeling that I was going to be ill, but Gauguin's arrival has so taken my mind off it
that I'm sure it will pass. I must not neglect my food for a
time, and that is all, absolutely all there is to it.
And after a time you will have some work again.
Gauguin brought a magnificent canvas, which he has exchanged
with Bernard, Breton women in a green field, white, black,
green, and a note of red, and the dull flesh tints. After all,
we must all be of good cheer.
I believe that the time will come when I too shall sell, but
I am so far behind with you, and while I go on spending, I
bring nothing in. Sometimes the thought of it saddens me.
I am very glad of what you write, that one of the Dutchmen
is coming to stay with you, so that you will not be alone any
more, and it's all right, absolutely all right, especially
since the winter will soon be here.
And now I am in a hurry and must go out and...
Letter from Vincent van Gogh to Theo van Gogh (17 January 1889) ... francs. That barely takes us to the 10 th . I hoped
for a letter from you about the 10 th , but, this
letter did not arrive till today, January 17 th , the
time between has been a most rigorous fast, the more painful
because I cannot recover under such conditions.
I have nevertheless started work again, and I already have
three studies in the studio, besides the portrait of Dr. Rey,
which I gave him as a keepsake. So there is no
worse harm done this time than a little more suffering and its
attendant wretchedness. And I keep on hoping. But I feel weak
and rather uneasy and frightened. That will pass, I hope, as I
get back my strength.
Letter from Vincent van Gogh to Theo van Gogh (24 March 1889) ... liberty to carry
on my handicraft.
M. Rey says that instead of eating enough
and at regular times, I kept myself going on coffee and alcohol.
I admit all that, but all the same it is true that to attain
the high yellow note that I attained last summer, I really had
to be pretty well keyed up. And that after all, an artist is a
man with his work to do, and it is not for the first idler who
comes along to crush him for good.
Am I to suffer imprisonment or the madhouse? Why not? Didn't
Rochefort and Hugo, Quinet and others give an eternal example
by submitting to exile, and the first even to a convict prison?
But all I want to say is that this is a thing above the mere
question of illness and health.
Naturally one is beside oneself in parallel cases. I do not
say equivalent, being in a very inferior and secondary place to
theirs, but I do say parallel.
