Lauterbrunnen

'Painted on old memory of the Lauterbrunnen valley. I can paint Switzerland better when it is a somewhat far-away memory. This outline must have been made many years ago. Probably if I went, taking this sketch with me to the actual place, the reality would put me out, partly because nature is so changeful, that no two mornings are alike and I should go and see it under a new aspect which would battle with the old one and make confusion. Now, though it is a far-off memory, yet that memory is of one bright day and I seem to see it before me and accordingly the drawing is, to all appearance, getting to be something like the thing seen.' (Diary, February, 1915.)