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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A soul and life in that crayon

Vincent van Gogh to Theo van Gogh, from The Hague, c. 4 March 1883

Will you do me a very great favor - send me a few pieces of that crayon by mail?

There is a soul and life in that crayon - I think conte pencil is dead. Two violins may look the same on the outside, but in playing them, one sometimes finds a beautiful tone in one, and not in the other.

Now that crayon has a great deal of tone or depth. I could almost say, That crayon knows what I want, it listens with intelligence and obeys; the conte pencil is indifferent and unwilling.

The crayon has a real gypsy soul; if it isn't asking too much of you, send me some of it.

Letter 272
Translation courtesy of Robert Harrison.
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