The lines which will seem entirely natural

Vincent van Gogh to Theo van Gogh, from The Hague, early April 1882

I should love to make more studies from the nude. You know I drew Exercices au Fusain, several times even, but no female figures are included.

Of course, it is quite different to draw it from life.

A little sketch such as the enclosed is quite simple in line. But when you are sitting in front of your model, it is difficult enough to get those simple characteristic lines. Those lines are so simple that one can trace them with the pen, but I repeat, the problem is to find those principal lines, so that the essence is expressed with a few strokes or scratches. It is not easy to select the lines which will seem entirely natural.

Letter 185
Translation courtesy of Robert Harrison.
Back to The Way of Vincent: Making art no matter what