Vincent van Gogh - Still Life with Two Sacks and a Bottle 1884
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Still Life with Two Sacks and a Bottle 1884
31x42cm oil/canvas
Private collection
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Van Gogh and his brother Theo exchange letters about Vincent's propensity to use dark colors and the amount of black in his paintings. Theo is unable to sell any of his work and encourages Vincent to explore creating work that is lighter in mood and shade.
Mid-October 1885 Vincent responds that he the use of dark colors are more realistic and mature, "I am writing you rather a long letter - though perhaps you may not believe what I say about the colours, and though you may find me pessimistic when I say that much of what is called delicate grey is a very ugly grey; though you may find me pessimistic or worse when I also disapprove of the smooth polishing of faces, hands and eyes, because the great masters all worked in quite a different way, perhaps by and by your own study of art, which I am glad you took up again thoroughly, will change you too."