Paul Gauguin (1848-1903)
The Valley
oil on canvas, 41.5 x 67 cm.
Painted in 1892
Private collection
'I am an artist and you are right, you are not mad, I am a great artist and I know it. It is because I am such that I have endured such sufferings. To do what I have done in other circumstances would make me a ruffian. Which I am no doubt for many people. Anyhow, what does it matter? What distresses me most is not so much the poverty as the perpetual obstacles to my art, which I cannot practice as I feel it ought to be done and as I could do if relieved of the poverty which ties my hands. You tell me I am wrong to remain far away from the artistic centre. No I am right, I have known for a long time what I am doing, and why I do it. My artistic centre is in my brain and not elsewhere and I am strong because I am never sidetracked by others, and do what is in me - my actions, my painting etc., are criticised and repudiated every time, but in the end I am acknowledged to be right. I am always starting all over again. I believe I am doing my duty, and strong in this. I accept no advice and take no blame. The conditions in which I am working are unfavourable, and one must be a colossus to do what I am doing in these circumstances' (Paul Gauguin, 'Letter to his Wife Mette' March, 1892)
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to endure |ɪnˈdjʊə| - вытерпеть, выдерживать
circumstances |ˈsɜːkəmstənsɪz| - обстоятельства, условия, материальное положение
ruffian |ˈrʌfɪən| - бандит, негодяй
to distress |dɪˈstres| - огорчать, терзать
perpetual obstacles |pəˈpetʃʊəl ˈɒbstəkəlz| - нескончаемые препятствия
ought to |ɔːt| - следовать, должен (модальный глагол, альтернатива should, подчеркивает моральную обязанность, долг, зов сердца)
to sidetrack |ˈsaɪd.træk| - отвлекать от цели
to repudiate |rɪˈpjuːdɪeɪt| - отвергать, не признавать
to acknowledge |əkˈnɒlɪdʒ| - признавать
to take no blame - не брать вину на себя
colossus |kəˈlɒsəs| - гигант, коло́сс
