My ugly face and shabby coat
Vincent van Gogh to Theo van Gogh, from The Hague, c. 15-27 April 1882
I, who did not feel at ease in a fine store, who would not feel so especially now, and would certainly be bored and bore others - I am quite a different person when I am at work on the Geest or on the heath or in the dunes. Then my ugly face and shabby coat harmonize perfectly with the surroundings and I am myself and work with pleasure. As for the “how to do it,” I hope to be able to push on.
When I wear a fine coat, the working people that I want for models are afraid of me and distrust me, or they want more money from me. . . .
So if remarks are made about my habits - meaning dress, face, manner of speech - what answer shall I make…that such talk annoys me?
Am I ill-mannered in another sense, that is, insolent and indelicate?
Look here, in my opinion all politeness is founded on goodwill towards everybody, founded on the necessity everyone who has a heart in his breast feels, to help others, to be of use to somebody, and finally, on the need to live together, and not alone. Therefore I do my best; I draw, not to annoy people, but to amuse them, or to make them see things which are worth observing and which not everybody knows.
Letter 190
Translation courtesy of Robert Harrison.
Back to The Way of Vincent: Making art no matter what
I, who did not feel at ease in a fine store, who would not feel so especially now, and would certainly be bored and bore others - I am quite a different person when I am at work on the Geest or on the heath or in the dunes. Then my ugly face and shabby coat harmonize perfectly with the surroundings and I am myself and work with pleasure. As for the “how to do it,” I hope to be able to push on.
When I wear a fine coat, the working people that I want for models are afraid of me and distrust me, or they want more money from me. . . .
So if remarks are made about my habits - meaning dress, face, manner of speech - what answer shall I make…that such talk annoys me?
Am I ill-mannered in another sense, that is, insolent and indelicate?
Look here, in my opinion all politeness is founded on goodwill towards everybody, founded on the necessity everyone who has a heart in his breast feels, to help others, to be of use to somebody, and finally, on the need to live together, and not alone. Therefore I do my best; I draw, not to annoy people, but to amuse them, or to make them see things which are worth observing and which not everybody knows.
Letter 190
Translation courtesy of Robert Harrison.
Back to The Way of Vincent: Making art no matter what
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