The urgent necessity of helping
Vincent van Gogh to Theo van Gogh, from Arles, 4 September 1888
Neither Gauguin nor Bernard has written again. I think that Gauguin doesn't care a damn about it, because it isn't going to be done at once, and I for my part, seeing that Gauguin has managed to muddle along by himself for six months, am ceasing to believe in the urgent necessity of helping him.
So let's be prudent. If it does not suit him here, he may be forever reproaching me with, "Why did you bring me to this rotten country?" And I don't want any of that.
Naturally we can still remain friends with Gauguin but I see only too clearly that his mind is elsewhere. So I say, let's behave as if he were not there; then if he comes, so much the better - if he doesn't, so much the worse.
Letter 532
Translation courtesy of Robert Harrison.
Back to The Way of Vincent: Making art no matter what
Neither Gauguin nor Bernard has written again. I think that Gauguin doesn't care a damn about it, because it isn't going to be done at once, and I for my part, seeing that Gauguin has managed to muddle along by himself for six months, am ceasing to believe in the urgent necessity of helping him.
So let's be prudent. If it does not suit him here, he may be forever reproaching me with, "Why did you bring me to this rotten country?" And I don't want any of that.
Naturally we can still remain friends with Gauguin but I see only too clearly that his mind is elsewhere. So I say, let's behave as if he were not there; then if he comes, so much the better - if he doesn't, so much the worse.
Letter 532
Translation courtesy of Robert Harrison.
Back to The Way of Vincent: Making art no matter what
Labels: fellowship
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