Without knowing why
Vincent van Gogh to Theo van Gogh, from Nuenen, 30 April 1885
The point is that I've tried to bring out the idea that these people eating potatoes by the light of their lamp have dug the earth with the self-same hands they are now putting into the dish, and it thus suggests manual labor and - a meal honestly earned. I wanted to convey a picture of a way of life quite different from ours, from that of civilized people. So the last thing I would want is for people to admire or approve of it without knowing why.
Letter 404
Translation courtesy of Robert Harrison.
Back to The Way of Vincent: Making art no matter what
The point is that I've tried to bring out the idea that these people eating potatoes by the light of their lamp have dug the earth with the self-same hands they are now putting into the dish, and it thus suggests manual labor and - a meal honestly earned. I wanted to convey a picture of a way of life quite different from ours, from that of civilized people. So the last thing I would want is for people to admire or approve of it without knowing why.
Letter 404
Translation courtesy of Robert Harrison.
Back to The Way of Vincent: Making art no matter what
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