I shall often have to begin anew

Vincent van Gogh to Theo van Gogh, from The Hague, 19 August 1882

Painting the figure appeals to me very much, but it must ripen - I must get to know the technique better - what is sometimes called “la cuisine de l'art.” In the beginning I shall have to do much scraping, and shall often have to begin anew, but I feel that I learn from it and that it gives me a new, fresh view of things.

Letter 226
Translation courtesy of Robert Harrison.
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