Painting seems like a battle
Vincent van Gogh to Theo van Gogh, from The Hague, c. 14-18 March 1882
Theo, on Sunday I went round to De Bock's again - I don't know why, but every time I go and see him I get the same feeling: the fellow's too weak, he'll never make good - unless he changes, unless - unless - I see something weary, something blasé, something insincere in him that oppresses me, there is something consumptive about the atmosphere in his house.
And yet - it doesn't hit you in the eye - and there are probably few among his acquaintances who think of him as I do.
Well, anyway, he does do things that are nice sometimes, or at least not without charm and grace, but, iIs that enough? So much is demanded nowadays that painting seems like a campaign, a military campaign, a battle or a war.
Letter 182
Translation courtesy of Robert Harrison.
Back to The Way of Vincent: Making art no matter what
Theo, on Sunday I went round to De Bock's again - I don't know why, but every time I go and see him I get the same feeling: the fellow's too weak, he'll never make good - unless he changes, unless - unless - I see something weary, something blasé, something insincere in him that oppresses me, there is something consumptive about the atmosphere in his house.
And yet - it doesn't hit you in the eye - and there are probably few among his acquaintances who think of him as I do.
Well, anyway, he does do things that are nice sometimes, or at least not without charm and grace, but, iIs that enough? So much is demanded nowadays that painting seems like a campaign, a military campaign, a battle or a war.
Letter 182
Translation courtesy of Robert Harrison.
Back to The Way of Vincent: Making art no matter what
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