I must have money
Vincent van Gogh to Theo van Gogh, from Nuenen, 1 April 1884
I, for my part, needing money, am obliged to accept it, even if somebody said to me, "I want to put that drawing of yours away, or I want to throw it in the fire, you can get so much money for it"; under the circumstances I should say, "All right, give me the money, there is my work, I want to get on." I must have money, in order to get on; I try to get it, and therefore - even if you were completely indifferent to me - as long as I get your monthly allowance, without conditions forbidding me to do certain things, I will not break with you, and I agree to everything if need be.
My way of considering you and your money matches your way of considering me and my work - and as long as the balance is kept - I agree to it. If I receive money from you and you receive drawings or paintings from me, and if I have something to justify myself in the eyes of the world, though we might have nothing else in common, though we should write and speak about nothing, even then I feel satisfied for the moment, and I agree to it completely.
Letter 364
Translation courtesy of Robert Harrison.
Back to The Way of Vincent: Making art no matter what
I, for my part, needing money, am obliged to accept it, even if somebody said to me, "I want to put that drawing of yours away, or I want to throw it in the fire, you can get so much money for it"; under the circumstances I should say, "All right, give me the money, there is my work, I want to get on." I must have money, in order to get on; I try to get it, and therefore - even if you were completely indifferent to me - as long as I get your monthly allowance, without conditions forbidding me to do certain things, I will not break with you, and I agree to everything if need be.
My way of considering you and your money matches your way of considering me and my work - and as long as the balance is kept - I agree to it. If I receive money from you and you receive drawings or paintings from me, and if I have something to justify myself in the eyes of the world, though we might have nothing else in common, though we should write and speak about nothing, even then I feel satisfied for the moment, and I agree to it completely.
Letter 364
Translation courtesy of Robert Harrison.
Back to The Way of Vincent: Making art no matter what
Labels: practicality, work
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