Relevant paintings: "City street (Paddemoes)," Vincent van Gogh [Enlarge]
"City street (De Geest)," Vincent van Gogh [Enlarge]
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Dear Theo,
Perhaps you will think what I wrote you about Tersteeg
rather harsh. But I cannot take it back. He must be told
straight out, or else it doesn't penetrate his armour. For
years he has considered me a kind of incompetent dreamer; he
still does; and even says of my drawing, “That is a kind
of narcotic which you take in order not to feel the pain not
being able to make watercolours causes you.”
Well, that's a very fine idea, but it is thoughtless,
superficial and not to the point; the main reason for my not
being able to make watercolours is that I must draw even more
seriously, paying greater attention to proportions and
perspective.
Enough of that. I don't deserve his reproaches, and if my
drawings don't amuse him, then it doesn't amuse me to show them
to him.
He condemns my drawings, which have a great deal of good in
them, and I did not expect this of him.
If I make serious studies after the model, it is much more
practical than his practical talks about what is saleable or
unsaleable; I do not need so much instruction on that as he
supposes, having been in the business of selling pictures and
drawings myself. So I would rather lose his friendship than
give in to him in this matter.
Though there are moments when I feel overwhelmed by care, I
am still calm, and my calmness is founded on my serious method
of work and on earnest reflection. Though I have moments of
passion aggravated by my temperament, yet I am calm, as he who
has been acquainted with me so long knows quite well. Even now
he said to me, “You have too much patience.”
That's not right - in art one cannot have too much
patience - it's out of all proportion. Perhaps in my case Mr.
Tersteeg has too little patience.
He must see now, once and for all, that I take things
seriously and will not let myself be forced to produce work
that does not show my own character. My own character has begun
to show especially in my last drawings and studies, which
Tersteeg condemned.
Perhaps, perhaps I could succeed even now in making a
watercolour that would sell if one tried very hard. But that
would be forcing watercolours in a hothouse. Tersteeg and you
must wait for the natural season, and that is not here yet.
He spoke English when he was here because of the model. I
said to him, In due time you will have your watercolours, but
not now - they are not due yet, take your time. And that is all
I have to say. Enough of it.
Since Tersteeg's visit I made a drawing of a boy from the
orphanage, blacking shoes. It may be this is done by a hand
that does not quite obey my will, but still the boy's type is
there. And though my hand may be unruly, that hand will learn
to do what my head wishes. So I have made a sketch of the
studio with the stove, the chimney, easel, footstool, table,
etc., of course not quite saleable at present, but very useful
for practicing perspective.
I am longing for your visit, there are so many things for
you to see that I have made since you were here last summer.
Theo, I count on your judging my work with sympathy and with
confidence, and not with hesitation and dissatisfaction.
Because I work so much, Tersteeg thinks it is so easy; in
that he is also quite wrong. For in fact I am a drudge or a
plodding draft ox.
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 what I have to spend, and had to do what
I have to do. Then he would see that it is not a question of
dreaming and brooding, or of taking narcotics, but that one
must be wide-awake to fight against so many difficulties.
Neither is it easy to find models and get them to sit for me.
This discourages most painters. Especially when one must save
on food, drink, and clothes to pay them.
Well, Tersteeg is Tersteeg, and I am I.
But let me tell you that I am not opposed or hostile to him,
but I must make him understand that he judges me too
superficially, and - and I believe that he will change his
opinion; I fervently hope so, for it grieves and worries me
when there is an unfriendly feeling between us.
I hope your letter will come soon - I spent my last penny on
a stamp for this letter. It is true I received the 10 guilders
from Tersteeg only a few days ago, but that same day I had to
pay 6 of those guilders to the model, to the baker, to the
little girl who sweeps the studio.
Adieu, I wish you health and courage; in spite of
everything, I myself am not without good courage.
Je te serre la main,
Vincent
I have had a very pleasant visit from Jules Bakhuyzen [A
Dutch painter], and I may go to see him whenever I like.
[Postscript]
Theo, it is almost miraculous!!!
In the third place, I just met Mauve, happily
delivered of his large picture, and he promised to come and see
me soon. So, “ça va, ça marche, ça
ira encore!”
And another thing touched me - very, very deeply. I had told
the model not to come today - I didn't say why, but
nevertheless the poor woman came, and I protested. “Yes,
but I have not come to pose - I just came to see if you had
something for dinner.” She had brought me a dish of beans
and potatoes. There are things that make life worth living
after all. The following words in Sensier's Millet appealed to
me, and touched me very much, sayings of Millet's:
“L'art c'est un combat - dans l'art il faut y mettre
sa peau.”
“Il s'agit de travailler comme plusieurs
nègres: J'aimerais mieux ne rien dire que de
m'exprimer faiblement.”
[Art is a fight - one must put one's hide (i.e. one's
utmost) into art.
The thing to do is to work like a lot of Negroes: I would
rather say nothing than express myself feebly.]
It was only yesterday that I read this last saying of
Millet's, but I felt the same thing before; that's why I
sometimes like to scratch what I want to express with a hard
carpenter's pencil or a pen instead of with a soft brush. Take
care, Tersteeg, take care, you are decidedly wrong.
At this time, Vincent was 28 year oldSource: Vincent van Gogh. Letter to Theo van Gogh. Written c. 11 March 1882 in The Hague. Translated by Mrs. Johanna van Gogh-Bonger, edited by Robert Harrison, number 180. URL: https://www.webexhibits.org/vangogh/letter/11/180.htm.
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