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Vincent Van Gogh Quotes - Page 17

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I don't know if I can convey the postman as I feel him... Unfortunately he cannot pose, and a painting demands an intelligent model.

I don't know if I can convey the postman as I feel him... Unfortunately he cannot pose, and a painting demands an intelligent model.

Vincent Van Gogh
Intelligent, Demand, Painting

Study, analyse the social structure - that's always far more effective than moralising.

Vincent Van Gogh
Morality, Study, Social
Vincent Van Gogh (2013). “Van Gogh on Art and Artists: Letters to Emile Bernard”, p.86, Courier Corporation

Fortunately for me, I know well enough what I want, and am basically utterly indifferent to the criticism that I work to hurriedly. In answer to that, I have done some things even more hurriedly theses last few days.

Vincent Van Gogh
Inspirational, Criticism, Done
Vincent van Gogh (2014). “Delphi Complete Works of Vincent van Gogh (Illustrated)”, p.3007, Delphi Classics

I myself believe that there is in every painter's life a period of making absurdities. In my case I think that period is already long past.

Vincent Van Gogh
Believe, Past, Thinking

Well, I dare not allow myself any illusions, and I am afraid it may never happen that Father and Mother will really appreciate my art. It is not their fault; we do not see the same things with the same eyes, or have the same thoughts raised in us by them. They will never be able to understand what painting is.

Vincent Van Gogh
Mother, Art, Father

The canvas has an idiotic stare and mesmerises some painters so much that they turn into idiots themselves.

Vincent Van Gogh
Canvas, Idiot, Staring
Vincent van Gogh (2014). “Delphi Complete Works of Vincent van Gogh (Illustrated)”, p.2333, Delphi Classics

One begins by plaguing oneself to no purpose in order to be true to nature, and one concludes by working quietly from one's own palette alone, and then nature is the result.

Vincent Van Gogh
Order, Purpose, Results

I am working with the enthusiasm of a man from Marseilles eating bouillabaisse, which shouldn't come as a surprise to you because I am busy painting huge sunflowers.

Vincent Van Gogh
Men, Sunflower, Enthusiasm

My aim in life is to make pictures and drawings, as many and as well as I can; then, at the end of my life... looking back with love and tender regret, and thinking, 'Oh, the pictures I might have made!'

Vincent Van Gogh
Regret, Thinking, Drawing
Vincent van Gogh (2014). “Delphi Complete Works of Vincent van Gogh (Illustrated)”, p.2172, Delphi Classics

We must not judge God from this world. It's just a study that didn't come off. It's only a master who could make such a blunder.

Vincent Van Gogh
Judging, World, Study

If one were to say but few words, though ones with meaning, one would do better than to say many that were only empty sounds, and just as easy to utter as they were of little use.

Vincent Van Gogh
Sound, Use, Littles

Painting it was hard graft... in addition red, yellow, brown ochre, black, terra sienna, bistre, and the result is a red-brown that varies from bistre to deep wine-red and to pale, blond reddish.

Vincent Van Gogh
Wine, Yellow, Black

It may be true that there is no God here, but there must be one not far off, and at such a moment one feels His presence; which comes to the same as saying (and I readily give this sincere profession of faith): I believe in God, and that it is His wi

Vincent Van Gogh
Believe, Giving, May
Vincent van Gogh (1959). “Complete Letters: With Reproductions of All the Drawings in the Correspondence”

There is no blue without yellow and without orange, and if you put in blue, then you must put in yellow, and orange too, mustn't you? Oh well, you will tell me that what I write to you are only banalities.

Vincent Van Gogh
Writing, Blue, Yellow
Vincent van Gogh (2014). “Delphi Complete Works of Vincent van Gogh (Illustrated)”, p.2736, Delphi Classics

I believe that one thinks much more soundly if the thoughts arise from direct contact with things, than if one looks at things with the aim of finding this or that in them.

Vincent Van Gogh
Believe, Thinking, Looks
H. R. Graetz, Vincent van Gogh (1963). “The Symbolic Language of Vincent Van Gogh”, London, Hudson

The cure for him would be to take a good long look at some potato plants, which have lately had such a deep and distinctive colour and tone, instead of driving himself mad looking at pieces of yellow satin and gold leather.

Vincent Van Gogh
Yellow, Long, Mad
Vincent van Gogh (2014). “Delphi Complete Works of Vincent van Gogh (Illustrated)”, p.2000, Delphi Classics

If one has such an encounter it is to be expected it will bring him into conflict, especially conflict with himself, because one sometimes literally does not know what to do or what not to do. But is this struggle and even the mistakes one may make, not better, and do they not develop us more than if we keep systematically away from emotions?

Vincent Van Gogh
Mistake, Struggle, Emotional
"The Letters of Vincent Van Gogh to His Brother, 1872-1886".

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