Lot Essay
This watercolor was painted in The Hague in December, 1881, while van Gogh studied art under the tutelage of his cousin, Anton Mauve. In a letter to his brother Theo (letter no. 163, written in December, 1881), the artist wrote:
I still go to Mauve's everyday--in the daytime to paint, in the evening to draw. I have now painted five studies and two water colors and, of course, a few more sketches...The painted studies are still life, the watercolors are made after the model, a Scheveningen girl...through Mauve I have got some insight into the mysteries of the palette and of watercoloring...I confidently hope that I shall be able to make something salable in a relatively short time. Yes, I even think that these two would be salable in case of need. Especially the one which Mauve has brushed a little. But I would rather keep them myself for a time in order to remember better some things about the way in which they are done...
On July 7, 1882, van Gogh again referred to this watercolor in a letter to Theo (letter no. 214):
...This afternoon I at once sent a drawing to the doctor who treated me...to show my gratitude. It was a Scheveningen girl knitting, done at Mauve's studio, and really the best watercolor I had, especially since Mauve had put in some touches, and had watched me do it and called some details to my attention. I should have liked to keep it...
I still go to Mauve's everyday--in the daytime to paint, in the evening to draw. I have now painted five studies and two water colors and, of course, a few more sketches...The painted studies are still life, the watercolors are made after the model, a Scheveningen girl...through Mauve I have got some insight into the mysteries of the palette and of watercoloring...I confidently hope that I shall be able to make something salable in a relatively short time. Yes, I even think that these two would be salable in case of need. Especially the one which Mauve has brushed a little. But I would rather keep them myself for a time in order to remember better some things about the way in which they are done...
On July 7, 1882, van Gogh again referred to this watercolor in a letter to Theo (letter no. 214):
...This afternoon I at once sent a drawing to the doctor who treated me...to show my gratitude. It was a Scheveningen girl knitting, done at Mauve's studio, and really the best watercolor I had, especially since Mauve had put in some touches, and had watched me do it and called some details to my attention. I should have liked to keep it...