Some way for me to earn something

Vincent van Gogh to Theo van Gogh, from Nuenen, 18-19 January 1884

We asked the doctor again to tell us plainly what it was, and it is a fact that Mother’s thighbone is broken right beneath the joint.

You know that I was just going to pay off some debts with the money you sent. But as there will be many extra expenses, of course I told Father he was welcome to use it; the other things can wait, and it was only by chance that I had not yet sent it off. I am afraid it will be a long time before Mother recovers. . . .

Theo, think it over well, if you cannot find some way or other for me to earn something. Money will be needed, and we must also consider once more the chances of selling my work. If it were only possible for me to pay my working expenses myself, so that you could give Mother what you would otherwise give me.

I told you already that I am doing watercolors of the weavers here. I shall try to finish some.

Letter 353
Translation courtesy of Robert Harrison.
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