Almost a handsome promise

Vincent van Gogh to Theo van Gogh, from Antwerp, early February 1886

Just after the receipt of your letter it happened that Sibert came to look at the drawings (mine was a head of Niobe and a hand that might be done by Michelangelo). I had drawn that hand within a few hours, and that was the drawing he liked best. Now l told him that l intended to go to Cormon, and he said: “You may do as you like, but I tell you that Verlat has trained several strong ones, and we attach great value to training pupils who are a credit to us - and I advise you most strongly to stay.”

This is almost a handsome promise, as if they guarantee success, and what shall I do?

Letter 448
Translation courtesy of Robert Harrison.
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"You take drawing seriously"

Vincent van Gogh to Theo van Gogh, from Antwerp, early February 1886

I am also drawing in the daytime now, and the teacher there, who makes portraits at present and gets well paid for them, has asked me repeatedly if I had never drawn from plaster casts before and if I had taught myself to draw, and he concluded: "I see that you have worked a lot, and, it will not take you long to make progress, you will gain much by it - it will take a year, but what does that matter?"

Now there is one fellow of my age sitting next to me to whom he does not say that.

Now Sibert, that is the name of the teacher who also directs the class for drawing from the nude, said, "As for you, you will draw as you please, for I see that you take drawing seriously."

Then he also said that Verlat had told him there was some good in my work which Verlat did not say to me.

Letter 448
Translation courtesy of Robert Harrison.
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I could not sell it

Vincent van Gogh to Theo van Gogh, from Nuenen, 8-12 November 1885

You know those three pollard oaks at the bottom of the garden at home; I have plodded on them for the fourth time.

The difficulty was the tufts of havana leaves, to model them and give them form, color, tone. Then in the evening I took it to that acquaintance of mine in Eindhoven, who has a rather stylish drawing room, where we put it on the wall. Well, never before was I so convinced that I shall make things that do well, that I shall succeed in calculating my colors, so that I have it in my power to make the right effect.

Now, though that man has money, though he took a fancy to it, I felt such a glow of courage when I saw that it was good that, as it hung there, it created an atmosphere by the soft melancholy harmony of that combination of colors that I could not sell it.

But as he had a fancy for it, I gave it to him, and he accepted it just as I had intended, without many words, namely little more than, "The thing is damned good."

I don't think so yet myself.

Letter 431
Translation courtesy of Robert Harrison.
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One succeeds in convincing a few people

Vincent van Gogh to Theo van Gogh, from Nuenen, April 1884

You must by no means suppose that I have great illusions about the appreciation of my work; I think one must be satisfied if one succeeds in convincing a few people of the seriousness of one's intentions, and is understood by them without flattery.

For the rest, if there is anything more than that, so much the better, but one must think about it as little as possible. But yet I believe the work must be seen, because the few friends will sift down from that very stream of passers-by. But one need not mind what people in general say and do.

Letter 366
Translation courtesy of Robert Harrison.
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To make something serious

Vincent van Gogh to Theo van Gogh, from The Hague, 25 February 1882

Of course I should be very happy to sell a drawing, but I am happier still when a real artist like Weissenbruch says about an unsaleable??? study or drawing, "That is true to nature, I could work from it myself." Although money is of great value to me, especially now, the principal thing is for me to make something serious. . . .

It may take a longer or a shorter time, but the surest way is to penetrate deep into nature. "It remains to be true," Gavarni says. One may be in pecuniary difficulties for some time; but one gets over that, and then the drawings that were refused at first are sold.

Letter 177
Translation courtesy of Robert Harrison.
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No result could please me more

Vincent van Gogh to Theo van Gogh, from The Hague, 16 November 1882

I do not know whether you will think me conceited when I tell you that the following pleased me very much. Smulder's workmen at the other store on the Laan saw the stone of the old man from the almshouse, and asked the printer if they could have a copy to hang on the wall. No result of my work could please me more than when ordinary working people hang such prints in their room or workshop.

I think what Herkomer said, It is really done for you - the public, is true. Of course a drawing must have artistic value, but in my opinion this doesn't prevent the man in the street from finding something in it.

Letter 245
Translation courtesy of Robert Harrison.
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