| | 30 letters relate to Theo - mistress... | Excerpt length: shorter longer | |
| Letter from Vincent van Gogh to Theo van Gogh
(c. 9 March 1884)
... you at least show them to
somebody.
As to the matter you wrote me about, I think in such a case,
when one sees no possibility of carrying it through, there is
one thing one must not forget.
That is, if the woman has loved you, has really cared for
you, and you for her, this period of love is a piece of good
fortune in life.
She, the woman, may be beautiful or plain, young or old,
better or worse, that affects it only indirectly. The only
thing that matters is that you have loved each other. On
parting - don't smother it or try to forget it - the only cliff
to be avoided then is that of self-righteousness, one
must not pretend then that the woman is under great obligations
to the man, one must part as if one were under an obligation
oneself - that is, in my opinion, more courteous and humane -
perhaps that is your opinion too. Love always brings
difficulties, that is true, but the good side of it is that it
gives energy.
Of myself I believe - and I think... | Letter from Vincent van Gogh to Theo van Gogh
(c. 21 March 1884)
... Dear Theo,
Look here, this will not do. In your letter you speak about
an “amour traînant” [flagging love] and that
when you had to face that question, you finally broke it off.
Well, this as at least a manly action.
I am involved - not exactly with an “amour
traînant” - but with an “amitié
traînant.”
Don't you think we might apply the same system to it?
One of the things of which I say “this will not
do” is that you send me a third of the money, and write,
“I could send you the rest, but it suits me better to do
so toward the end of the month, if it doesn't inconvenience
you.” Now must you ask me if it suits me or not? You know
yourself how last month I used three-quarters of the money to
pay things off. But I did not complain, not even when the money
arrived as late as March 10.
But now, when I promised to pay various other things in
March which I owed when I came here, to... | Letter from Vincent van Gogh to Theo van Gogh
(c. 9 December 1884)
... self-confidence. So much for
that.
I do not think it impossible that Marie - you know whom I
mean, the one you helped when she was sick - notwithstanding
full appreciation of your character and assistance, must have
felt something of what I feel. Instinctively I dare suppose
it.
Now I will take the liberty to say one thing - we
shall separate - for me this is a precarious transition
- and one coupled with financial difficulties that will
certainly be a great worry to me. However, I shall try to see
things through - but I most decidedly demand of you that at
this moment, which is critical for me, you on your part will be
very frank. I know that you will agree to our separation
- for the very reason that it will be settled peacefully.
Tell me without reserve whether you approve of Antwerp -
including my retaining my studio here in the country, which is
too cheap to let go, and which for that matter I cannot do
without as a storeroom and a refuge... |
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