Letters: what they reveal about process, money, and meaning
Why van Gogh’s correspondence matters and what it clarifies about his day-to-day practice.
Letters as a “second studio”
Van Gogh’s letters are not just biography. They are a record of working methods: what he was studying, which paintings he was attempting, what he thought succeeded, and what he planned next.
Materials, costs, and constraints
He often discusses money and supplies. That practical reality shaped output — the size of canvases, the number of studies, and how quickly he worked. Knowing this makes the productivity of certain periods more understandable.
Ideas in plain language
The letters also explain intent without mysticism. He speaks about using color to express mood, simplifying forms for clarity, and painting from memory to strengthen the internal logic of a scene.
Legacy
Because the letters survive in large numbers, they provide one of the clearest windows into an artist’s inner workshop in the 19th century — and they help separate legend from the daily reality of practice.