Letter from Vincent van Gogh to Theo van Gogh (June 1879) ... in many things that used to attract me.
What prompts me to write is that I heard from home that you
have had an offer to go to Paris for six weeks. If you go
there, you will pass the Borinage. I wanted you to consider
spending a day, or more if possible, here. I should so much
like to have you know this country, too, because it has so many
peculiarities for one who knows how to look at things
attentively. To one who had never seen a village by the sea,
would it not be interesting to see Scheveningen or Katwijk, or
any other such village? Well, there is no sea here, but the
character of everything is interesting and worthy of notice. So
if you feel inclined and have an opportunity, stay here, but do
write beforehand when you are coming and where, at which
station I shall find you, and on what train.
I shall give this letter to Mother when she comes, for in
all probability I shall meet her when she comes back from
Paris. [Their mother had been called to Paris; on his way to
the...
Letter from Vincent van Gogh to Theo van Gogh (January 1881) ... all the Exercices au Fusain by Bargue.
You told me of a change in the staff of the house Goupil
& Co., and also of another change in your own position. I
congratulate you, and as to those gentlemen Goupil & Co.,
I am inclined to believe that they are to be congratulated on
having got rid of some of the staff. I have always thought that
those gentlemen themselves were animated by a superior and
nobler spirit than that of those who have now left. Perhaps the
position the latter have occupied so long in the firm, the
influence and domination, which Messrs. Goupil & Co. put up
with, were repugnant to some of the other employees, whom the
company would perhaps have done better to retain, but who were
so driven to extremes that they resigned.
Letter from his Father to Theo van Gogh (14 February 1882) ... van Gogh to Theo
14 February 1881
It seems as if the melancholy mood caused by our worries
about Vincent has much diminished since we heard that good news
about your promotion…It is very kind of you that you are
willing to assist us a little in those expenses for Vincent. I
can assure you that it will not be a negligible relief to us,
for the months fly by and every time the necessary sum has to
be available. I sent him forty guilders in the beginning of
January, twenty guilders on 22 January, thirty-five guilders on
7 February. Yet, it should not get you into any troubles
yourself. For the moment he is cared for, but in the beginning
of March he will need something again. Does it suit you to take
care of it already then, or shall I do it; tell me frankly.
...
Letter from Vincent van Gogh to Theo van Gogh (22-24 December 1881) ... I think you will agree with me in this.
Now in my last letter I forgot to tell you that I think it's
fine that you are going to London. I should not like you to go
and stay there, but it is a good thing to become acquainted
with it.
In the long run I do not think you would like it there, at
least it becomes clearer and clearer to me that I never felt in
my element there. Here in Holland I feel much more at home,
yes, I think I shall again become a thorough Dutchman, and
don't you think that's most reasonable, after all? I think I
shall become quite a thorough Dutchman again, in character as
well as in my drawing and painting style. But I think that my
having been abroad for some time and my having seen a few
things there which it is not superfluous to know will prove
useful to me. When you get to London, I wish you would give my
best regards to my old friends, George Read and Richardson.
I met Mr. Obach at The Hague this summer.
George Read is, if you like, a very ordinary...
Letter from Vincent van Gogh to Theo van Gogh (3 June 1883) ... and worked on them early and late.
I am sorry to hear from you that business is rather slack;
if circumstances become more difficult, let us redouble our
energy. I will be doubly intent on my drawings, but for the
present do be doubly intent on sending the money. To me it
means models, studio, bread; cutting it down would be something
like choking or drowning me. I mean, I can do as little without
it now as I can do without air. I had these two drawings in my
heart for a long time, but I did not have the money to carry
them out; and now, thanks to Rappard's money, they have got
form. The creative power cannot be repressed, one must give
vent to what one feels.
Do you know what I often think? I should like to get into
contact with the Graphic or London News in England. Now that I
am getting on with it, I should like so much to continue a few
large compositions suitable for illustration.
Boughton and Abbey together are making drawings called
“Picturesque Holland”...
