IDENTITY
Letter 260 — Fleeting Effects, Rapid Execution & Nature as Shorthand
The Hague, 1882
Content Summary
On 3 September 1882 at The Hague, Van Gogh describes working rapidly to capture a fleeting effect in nature, using vigorous direct handling and impasto while comparing painting to a kind of visual shorthand.
CONTEXT
Topics
Working Method, Rapid Execution, Fleeting Effects, Observation, Painting from Nature, Brushwork, Impasto, Direct Tube Application, Artistic Practice, Palette, Explicit Use
Materials & Pigments
White, Ochre, Ochres, sienna, Black, bistre
Related People
Vincent van Gogh, Theo van Gogh, Anton Mauve
Paintings
RESEARCH
Quotation
However, because this effect doesn’t last, I had to paint quickly. I see that nature has told me something, has spoken to me and that I’ve written it down in shorthand.
Research Focus
The letter gives an early and unusually explicit account of rapid execution as a response to changing natural effects, while showing that speed for Van Gogh could serve concentrated observation rather than replace it.
Related Work / Relevance
SOURCES & EVIDENCE
Source Type
Letter
Source
Source Edition
Vincent van Gogh — The Letters, scholarly online edition (Van Gogh Museum / Huygens ING)
Source URL
Evidence Type
Primary Source
Related Readings