| | 57 letters relate to feelings - ambition... | Excerpt length: shorter longer | |
| Letter from Vincent van Gogh to Theo van Gogh
(early August 1878)
... see and hear many
interesting things.
I just received a postcard from the Reverend Mr. Pietersen;
about the middle of August I shall have to go to Brussels. But
as no date has been fixed and as Father and Mother think it
better for me to stay until Anna's wedding, I shall wait until
all that is over and then start for Brussels. The other day I
made a little drawing after Émile Breton's “A
Sunday Morning,” in pen and ink and pencil. How I like
his work! Has he made anything new this year? Do you see much
of his work? Yesterday and today I wrote a composition on the
parable of the mustard seed and it is 27 pages long; I hope
there is some good in it. As you can imagine, Father and I walk
about the parish a great deal, or to De Hoeve and De Leur, and
I also take many a long walk across the heath with Cor.
Of course I am very curious to know how it will be in
Brussels. I hope the work may prove successful and be
blessed.
The fields here are so beautiful... | Letter from Vincent van Gogh to Theo van Gogh
(7 September 1880)
... are in the same style and
sentiment.
I have been making rough sketches of these drawings without
advancing very much, but lately it seems to be improving, and I
am hopeful that it will improve even more. Especially because
Mr. Tersteeg and also you have come to my aid with good models,
for at present I think it is much better to copy some good
things than to work without this foundation. Yet I could not
keep from sketching in a rather large size the drawing of the
miners going to the shaft which I sent you a hasty sketch of,
though I changed the placement of the figures a little. I hope
that after having copied the other two series by Bargue, I
shall be able to draw miners, male and female, more or less
well, if by chance I can have a model with some character; and
as to that, there are plenty of them.
The lithograph after Bosboom's “Interior of a
Cowshed” is very beautiful. You understood my intentions
perfectly when you added “La Malaria” by
... | Letter from Vincent van Gogh to Theo van Gogh
(15 October 1880)
... de Dessin, it has become
impossible.
That is why I moved, and in order to remedy things somewhat
radically, this is the plan which I have begun to carry out. I
went to see Mr. Schmidt here in Brussels and told him about the
affair, that is, I asked him if he could help me make an
arrangement with some artist so that I could continue my study
in a good studio. For I feel that it is absolutely necessary to
have good things to look at and also to see artists at work.
Then I am more aware of what I lack, and at the same time I
learn how to do better.
It had already been a long time since I have seen enough
pictures or drawings etc., and the very sight of some good
things here in Brussels has given me new inspiration and has
strengthened my desire to make good things myself.
If Mr. Schmidt would have the kindness to talk seriously
about it to someone or other, I do not doubt that the thing
could be satisfactorily arranged. He received me cordially, but
still, if you... | Letter from Vincent van Gogh to Theo van Gogh
(January 1881)
... you may have had for not
writing.
I have been drawing all winter until now, and I have also
read a great deal, for indirectly that is very necessary to me.
On the whole I can say I have made progress, but I ought to be
able to get along more quickly. The principal motive for
writing you now is to ask you if you know of any reason why I
should not go to see Mr. Tersteeg and Mauve. I think it would
be to my advantage to go to The Hague for a time. But if I knew
for certain that Mr. Tersteeg would rather I did not go there,
it might make me change my mind. What do you think about
it?
I have seen little of Van Rappard, because it seemed to me
that he did not like to be disturbed. As long as I am not more
advanced, I must avoid young artists, who do not always reflect
on what they do or say. And yet I long very much to find one
who, being more advanced than I, could help me progress.
Well, tell me if you see any insurmountable obstacle to my
going to The Hague for a... | Letter from Vincent van Gogh to Theo van Gogh
(January 1881)
... to extremes that they resigned.
As you vaguely spoke to me some time ago about coming to
Paris, I must tell you that I wish no better than to go someday
soon, provided I were sure of finding some work there which
would give me a salary of at least 100 fr. a month. I must also
tell you that as I have begun to draw, I do not intend to drop
it, so I will try chiefly to get on in that line. Not only does
drawing figures and scenes from life demand a knowledge of the
technique of drawing, but it also demands profound studies of
literature, physiognomy, etc., which are difficult to
acquire.
Enough for today; write me when you have a moment to spare,
and believe me, with a handshake,
Yours sincerely, Vincent
72 Bd. du Midi
Someday I hope to go to see Mr. Horta.
Sketches enclosed with letter:
“Devant les Tisons”
and “En Route”
... |
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