"You’ll never amount to anything"
Vincent van Gogh to Theo van Gogh, from The Hague, 26 July 1882
What has happened to me with Tersteeg is not at all unusual; everybody meets with such things in life. One cannot tell exactly where the fault lies. But with Tersteeg it is an old trouble. I am now almost certain that long ago he said things about me which contributed not a little toward putting me in a bad light. But I need not mind that - what could harm me before cannot harm me now.
When you come to the studio, you will see for yourself that it really is absurd when he says, "Oh! Your drawing will never amount to anything." However, it is hard to contradict such a remark, for as soon as one does, one is called conceited, and they mention the greatest artists and say, "He fancies he's like them."
Letter 220
Translation courtesy of Robert Harrison.
Back to The Way of Vincent: Making art no matter what
What has happened to me with Tersteeg is not at all unusual; everybody meets with such things in life. One cannot tell exactly where the fault lies. But with Tersteeg it is an old trouble. I am now almost certain that long ago he said things about me which contributed not a little toward putting me in a bad light. But I need not mind that - what could harm me before cannot harm me now.
When you come to the studio, you will see for yourself that it really is absurd when he says, "Oh! Your drawing will never amount to anything." However, it is hard to contradict such a remark, for as soon as one does, one is called conceited, and they mention the greatest artists and say, "He fancies he's like them."
Letter 220
Translation courtesy of Robert Harrison.
Back to The Way of Vincent: Making art no matter what
Labels: calling, negative reaction, other
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