IDENTITY
Letter 699 — Palette & Context + Support
Arles, 1888
Content Summary
On 8 October 1888 at Arles, Van Gogh discusses Prussian blue in flesh painting, colour used from memory, thick impasto and an urgent need for more canvas.
CONTEXT
Topics
Palette, Context + Support, Prussian blue in flesh, memory colour, thick impasto, urgent canvas supply, Technical judgement, Discouraged use, Flesh / flesh tones
Materials & Pigments
Canvas, Prussian blue
Related People
Vincent van Gogh
Paintings
RESEARCH
Quotation
it’s important not to draw with Prussian blue in the flesh areas! Because then it ceases to be flesh, it becomes wood!
Research Focus
The letter brings together palette judgment, memory-based colour, physical paint handling and studio supply, showing how expressive and practical concerns intersected in Van Gogh’s working process.
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