The drudgery those little things cost

Vincent van Gogh to Theo van Gogh, from The Hague, 2-3 December 1882

I think, however, that one would be very much mistaken in believing that such a thing as, for instance, the print "Le Benedicite" (a family of woodcutters and farmers at table) was made in one fell swoop. No, in most cases the solidity and pith of the small size is only acquired after much more serious study than those who think lightly of illustration work would suppose. Oh, boy, you are one of the best informed of the art dealers I know, and you speak about it with so much more truth and feeling than most of them; but if you knew the drudgery those little things have cost I think you would be awed by it.

Letter 250
Translation courtesy of Robert Harrison.
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