Hendrik Willem Mesdag

"Dear Brother-in-Law - Sister. We are ailing again rather well through the winter, always busy and working. It is a pity that the opportunity for new studies has not yet come, it is always a nice varia…"

"..Tadema wrote me that you both agreed that I must not exhibit these two paintings ; they were not yet complete enough for my reputation in Brussels. That's why I will not exhibit this year in Brussel…"

"In Groningen I also lived at the harbour, and I always used to chat with those skippers. Afterwards Willem Roelofs and Tadema taught me a lot, in the years from '66 to '69 in Brussels."

"Dear Lords, I hereby have the Honor to announce You that the painting 'Het Binnen komen der Haringschuiten in Scheveningen' has been sent today to your address, for your upcoming Exhibition . The pric…"

"It was fatal news: the sudden death of our boy, a three-day illness ended his life. What is our house empty.. .,which for eight years was the illusion of our lives. Fortunately for us that we love art…"

"I stared at her for many months in my life with a never fading love and with a interest that never diminished."

"I thank you for being so sincere in telling me honestly your opinion on the paintings sent to Paris . I am pleased that you really like the large sea piece. As far as the other painting is concerned .…"

"What I've made there - about some years ago, you will never see that again! It's all over; with Scheveningen it's finished. And when I didn't still know everything about the past from those sketches, …"