Suze Robertson

"Dear Richard, I was just coming home from [painting] an interior [with people!]. It was terribly dark today and yesterday, but today I made a pretty good study. I still sleep badly and feel nervous because of that.. .I dont need to come to The Hague for my drawing lessons.. .How long we will stay here [in ], I dont know. I will write you at least in advance. If I dont start sleeping better I will not stay much longer, I think. (translation from original Dutch, Fons Heijnsbroek, 2018)"

"A stay in Dongen, where she painted interiors [c. 1880] followed by a next stay in Blaricum [c. 1885-88] where she also painted interiors, gave more shape to her searching.. .Anything that was sweet, she avoided in her work. The women, whether they lifted the weight of a [hang] clock, or were peeling the potatoes or were hastily breaking a branch, were rough in shape. Without softening the outlines by color or light.. ..and sometimes it gave the impression as if, for fear of everything that is feminine, she masked her femininity by the crudeness of her conception. (translation from original Dutch, Fons Heijnsbroek, 2018)"

".So please write me about it, do you believe that Saar [their daughter, 10 years old] must go, Suze? In that case send me a money order with that amount [for the travel costs of Saar; friends want to take her with them, on holiday]. I have almost no money left but for a few days. How to finish my painting so that Zürcher [art-seller] will buy it, the sky may know.. .If I had the gift of you to paint a simple thing nicely together then I certainly would do, but in my case people are used to a kind of painting that is completely finished; otherwise I will have no chance to sell it. (translation from original Dutch, Fons Heijnsbroek, 2018)"

"Suze Robertson, is a woman-painter, of people with a heavy and tragic emphasis; of still life, where we find the same tragic mood; of cityscape, which attracts me less, of landscape with animals etc. (translation from original Dutch, Fons Heijnsbroek, 2018)"

"I never had difficulties with my students, for I was prepared for their pranks, because fortunately I had often been naughty myself. We frequently made tremendous fun at the Art Academy in The Hague.. .So I still had my own experience in this area fresh in my mind."

"Im not making any progress with the book that you were so kind to lend me [about techniques of etching]; the desire to study tie facts for etching from a book does not exist with me.. ..if you would rather give me some lessons, so that I can get some information, I will be glad..[which happened February / March 1891] (translation from original Dutch, Fons Heijnsbroek, 2018)"

"..you know together enough how the world is running - what life is - and how people are - together you are two apostles, fighting for their art and that is worth the only reason!! to stay alive.. ..now you are together - you can comfort each other when things go badly.. ..that keeps the mutual affection awake, so dear fellow, Suze - I wish you both all happiness.. (translation from original Dutch, Fons Heijnsbroek, 2018)"

"Although teaching in the class is so terribly tiring.. .I continued my work perfunctorily in a way that nobody could notice it. Because I lived with that firm intention: in a few years I will start painting. And I saved for this by being as sober as possible with everything."

".In the beginning I was struggling very much with [painting] children, for that painting by Br. [probably, Henk Bremmer?]. It has an almost square format. The woman must look to the right [and] there must be a child with her.. .But I painted only a few children with mothers, and recent times not at all; and then that size (square), I dont know how to handle it. I now think to come back to The Hague Sunday afternoon [and] to leave Heeze early. Monday here is another holy Day [catholic region]. So I can not work then.. (translation from original Dutch, Fons Heijnsbroek, 2018)"

"It is not so bad that my paintings have been placed in the so-called reading room [Amsterdam exhibition, probably Arti et Amicitiae at the Rokin?]. But it will be just as you write, they will definitely have to serve for FW Jansen and others. They certainly must get the medals and have to show in a most favorable way. .. Are there many beautiful things exhibited or is everything rather mediocre? Is there something to see of Breitner and Bauer. (translation from original Dutch, Fons Heijnsbroek, 2018)"

"I was in Amsterdam [train from The Hague] last Wednesday, exclusively for the paintings [at the exhibition in Arti, May 1888] .. ..I was delighted with the wonderful [painting of] Jaap Maris. I mean the big one, I never saw it before. Also the other paintings did much better [because of better light there]. So your White horse [White horse of Montmartre, painted by Breitner in Paris in 1884]. I even got the impression that the Dupré that hung next to it became feeble. De Brug [Breitners painting, also known as Rain and Wind] is a good job, but that painting never attracted me. I do not know why.. ..but I believe you will not be much attached to my opinion about this or that painting. I know how a peanut I am with no right to do so. I stayed at the exhibition until four oclock, then I returned to The Hague.. (translation from original Dutch, Fons Heijnsbroek, 2018)"

"..[a clear influence of his] talented wife [= Suze Robertson]. Perhaps in this painting by Bisschop one can see the spiritual marriage of two artists.. (translation from original Dutch, Fons Heijnsbroek, 2018)"