Relevant paintings: "Pilgrims at Emmaus," Rembrandt van Rijn 1648 [Enlarge]
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Highlighting feelings - nostalgia - Turn off highlighting
Dear Theo,
Enclosed is a short note for A. and L.; please add a word
and send them in time for Mother's birthday. (I must tell you
that I am sending them to you because I'm afraid of having no
stamps by that time, except for a letter home. If you should
write later, these can also wait.)
Uncle Jan left for Helvoirt on Saturday and intends to stay
away until September 10. It is very quiet here in the house
now, but still the days go by rapidly, as I have lessons daily
and must prepare for them. I wish the days were longer so I
could accomplish more, for it is not always easy work, and even
continuous plodding gives but meager satisfaction. Well, I am
convinced that what is difficult is right, even though one sees
no results.
I am also copying the whole of the Imitation of Christ from a
French edition which I borrowed from Uncle Cor; the book is
sublime, and he who wrote it must have been a man after God's
own heart. A few days ago such an irresistible longing for that
book came over me - perhaps because I so often look at the
lithograph after Ruyperez - that I asked Uncle Cor to lend it
to me; now I am copying it in the evening: it means much work,
but I have finished most of it, and I know no better way to
study it. I also bought Bossuet's Oraisons Funebres once more,
for 40 cents. I feel it is necessary to work as hard as I can.
I often think of that phrase, “The days are full of
evil”; one must arm oneself and try to be filled with as
much goodness as possible in order to be prepared and be able
to resist. As you know, it is no small undertaking, and we do
not know the result; but at all events I will try to fight the
good fight.
Thomas a Kempis' book is peculiar; in it are words so profound
and serious that one cannot read them without emotion, almost
fear - at least if one reads with a sincere desire for light
and truth - the language has an eloquence which wins the heart
because it comes from the heart. You have a copy, haven't
you?
Your loving brother,
Vincent
At this time, Vincent was 24 year oldSource: Vincent van Gogh. Letter to Theo van Gogh. Written 4 September 1877 in Amsterdam. Translated by Mrs. Johanna van Gogh-Bonger, edited by Robert Harrison, number 108. URL: https://www.webexhibits.org/vangogh/letter/6/108.htm.
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