It stimulates one to work hard

Vincent van Gogh to Theo van Gogh, from The Hague, c. 6 March 1883

I didn't intend to write so soon again - but as you know, I am trying to do different kinds of drawings. And now again today I made another sketch with the rest of that little piece of crayon - and afterward washed it in with sepia. I think I find in this crayon all kinds of qualities which make it an excellent means of expressing things from nature....

You can imagine that I am full of plans.

You know that I am working on many different things, for I should so much like to know many different techniques; because it stimulates one to work hard, and creates new ideas.

I wish I had thought of that crayon before, for it is preferable to many other things....

I don't ask you to send me some because I could not work without it, but because with it, I could make many other things in addition to my usual work.

Letter 273
Translation courtesy of Robert Harrison.
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