With a little patience my work can be good

Vincent van Gogh to Theo van Gogh, from The Hague, 24 March 1882

Well, I'm getting on all right and feel that I am making progress. I must go on drawing for a year or at least a few months more until my hand has become quite firm, and my eye steady; and then I don't see any obstacle to my becoming quite productive in things that will sell. It is only reasonable for me to want these few months' time. I cannot go quicker than that, for I should produce bad work, and that isn't necessary: with a little patience my work can be good. . . .

I should like to know since when they can force or try to force an artist to change either his technique or his point of view. I think it very impertinent to attempt such a thing, especially for a man like Tersteeg, who pretends to stand on “good form.” Theo, if you can send me some money, do, the sooner you send it, the sooner I shall be relieved of the worry.

Letter 183
Translation courtesy of Robert Harrison.
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