Not a soul I can confide in
Vincent van Gogh to Theo van Gogh, from The Hague, 11 February 1883
I am glad that my eyes are no worse, rather a little better, but it is not quite over yet and I must be careful. I can tell you, it was quite upsetting. How I should love to talk with you - for I am not discouraged about the work, nor listless nor disheartened, but I am at a standstill, and that is, perhaps, because I ought to have some intercourse with someone who is sympathetic to me and whom I could talk to about it; right now there is not a soul here whom I can confide in. . . .
I like the proverb, "When things are at their worst, they are sure to mend," but now and then I ask myself, "Haven't we by any chance reached the worst?" for the "mending" would not be at all unwelcome to me. Well, we'll see.
Letter 266
Translation courtesy of Robert Harrison.
Back to The Way of Vincent: Making art no matter what
I am glad that my eyes are no worse, rather a little better, but it is not quite over yet and I must be careful. I can tell you, it was quite upsetting. How I should love to talk with you - for I am not discouraged about the work, nor listless nor disheartened, but I am at a standstill, and that is, perhaps, because I ought to have some intercourse with someone who is sympathetic to me and whom I could talk to about it; right now there is not a soul here whom I can confide in. . . .
I like the proverb, "When things are at their worst, they are sure to mend," but now and then I ask myself, "Haven't we by any chance reached the worst?" for the "mending" would not be at all unwelcome to me. Well, we'll see.
Letter 266
Translation courtesy of Robert Harrison.
Back to The Way of Vincent: Making art no matter what
Labels: fellowship, hope, work
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