The poor people and the painters

Vincent van Gogh to Theo van Gogh, from The Hague, 8 February 1883

We had a few real spring days, for instance last Monday, which I enjoyed very much.

The cycle of the seasons is a thing which is strongly felt by the people. For instance, in a neighborhood like the Geest and in those courts of almshouses or "homes of charity," the winter is always a difficult, anxious and oppressive time, and spring is a deliverance. If one pays attention, one sees that such a first spring day is a kind of Gospel message.

And it is pathetic to see so many gray, withered faces come out of doors on such a day, not to do something special, but as if to convince themselves that spring is there. So, for instance, all kinds of people, of whom one would not expect it, throng the market around the spot where a man sells crocuses, snowdrops, bluebells and other bulbs. . . . I think the poor people and the painters have in common that feeling for the weather and the cycle of the seasons.

Letter 265
Translation courtesy of Robert Harrison.
Back to The Way of Vincent: Making art no matter what