Vincent Van Gogh history
You
were growing rich. You worked much, but you found time to read and to go walking.
You met painters and works of art. You were amazed at your discoveries of
the greatest artists but you were also curious about new trends. You were
sharpening your eye and your mind. You are going for walks and
feel like drawing. You would go to Scheveningen, a beautiful beach a few kilometers
away from La Haye. You are happy, relaxed. You don’t want to leave La
Haye, where you were able to build up something and become someone to the
world. You like this town and its museums. In August 72, Theo visited
you. You spent “pleasant days” together, and saw “many a thing”.
You had just met again an interesting, intelligent, inquiring-minded, mature
for his fifteen years old brother. You enjoyed talking. He liked listening
to you. You recognised the child who was following you through Zundert’s
fields. The true beginning of your rich correspondence...
He followed in your wake. He had just been moved to Brussels. You support
him. You teach him how to look at things and appreciate them. You tell him
about your tastes, your recent discoveries, the books you read...
Actually, you loved reading, the classic works as the modern... You thank
life. You make presents to your family.
Engravings, prints... You send them a proportion of your salary to help them.
The only time when you weren’t running out of money, when you had “more
than was necessary” to you.
You are happier than ever, enthusiastic. You tell Theo he should “smoke
a pipe” because “it’s a cure for the blues”.
The blues you have when you write to him. Because you had just learnt about
your transfer to London.
The Goupil gallery is expanding, and you are sent to its London branch.
You are sad to leave La Haye where you spent four years. You realize
“how much you have grown fond of this town”... “You can’t
imagine how kind everybody is with me, and you can guess how sad I am to leave
so many friends”...