Out of twenty drawings one is successful

Vincent van Gogh to Theo van Gogh, from The Hague, 1 May 1882

Those you think the best ought to be mounted in grey, and so by degrees you will get a small collection. . . .

I am not saying this to hurry you, but it will do no harm to think it over. You began to help me without knowing what the result would be and when others refused their help. I should be glad if the result were that you could say quite coolly to those who think it foolish of you to help me that you have not lost by it. And that stimulates me to work even harder, and I think you must begin to take a few drawings, and every month I will send some more. There are days when I make five of them, but one has to count on the fact that out of twenty drawings one is successful. But that one of the twenty is no accident - I can count on it. There will be one every week, of which I feel, it will last.

It is better if you keep those that are “lasting” for the present than if I sell them for 10 guilders to somebody here who takes them out of pity or charity.

Letter 195
Translation courtesy of Robert Harrison.
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