Letter from Vincent van Gogh to Theo van Gogh (24 March 1889) ... a relapse, and I pass on
to something else. Before you leave, could you send me
3 tubes zinc white
1 tube same size cobalt
1 “ “ ultramarine
4 “ “ malachite green
1 “ “ emerald green
1 “ “ orange lead
This in case - probable enough if I find a way of resuming
my work again - I should set to work shortly on the orchards
again. Oh, if only nothing had happened to mess up my life!
Let's think well before going to another place. You see that
I have no better luck in the South than in the North. It's
pretty much the same everywhere.
I am thinking of frankly accepting my role of madman, the
way Degas acted the part of a notary. But there it is, I do not
feel that altogether I have strength enough for such a
part.
You talk to me of what you call “the real
South.” The reason why I shall never go there is above. I
rightly leave that to men who have a more well-balanced mind,
...
Letter from Vincent van Gogh to Theo van Gogh (c. 5 April 1889) ... I have still to thank you for your last letter, as well as
for the consignment of paints from Tasset and for several
numbers of Le Fifre with drawings by Forain. These last
especially had the effect on me of making me see my own stuff
as very sentimental beside them.
I waited several days before answering, not knowing which
day you were leaving for Amsterdam. Besides I do not know
either if you are getting married in Breda or in Amsterdam. But
if as I am inclined to think it will be in Amsterdam, then I
have assumed that you would find this letter there by
Sunday.
By the way - just today our friend Roulin came to see me. He
told me to give you many greetings from him and to congratulate
you. His visit gave me a lot of pleasure; he often has to carry
loads you would call too heavy, but it doesn't prevent him, as
he has the strong constitution of the peasant, from always
looking well and even jolly. But for me, who am perpetually
learning from him afresh, what a lesson for...
Letter from Vincent van Gogh to Theo van Gogh (c. 13 April 1889) ... hope that everything has gone off well with you. Meanwhile
I have been obliged to ask Tasset for 10 meters of canvas and
some tubes.
And I still need:
12
Zinc white
Big tubes
1
Vermilion
Big tubes
1
Emerald
“
4
Malachite green
“
2
Cobalt
“
3
Chrome 1
“
2
ultramarine
“
...
Letter from Vincent van Gogh to Theo van Gogh (22 May 1889) ... even without thinking about
it
These are the paints I need:
3 emerald green
2 cobalt
1 ultramarine
1 orange lead (big tubes)
6 zinc white
5 meters of canvas
Thanking you for your kind letter, I shake your hand warmly,
as I do your wife's.
Ever yours, Vincent
...
Letter from Vincent van Gogh to Theo van Gogh (25 June 1889) ... My dear Theo,
Enclosed you will find an order for paints to replace the
one in my last letter. We have had some glorious days and I
have set even more canvases going, so that there are twelve
size 30 canvases in prospect.
