"..Tadema wrote me that you both agreed that I must not exhibit these two paintings [which Mesdag painted in 1868-69];…"

"I thank you for being so sincere in telling me honestly your opinion on the paintings sent to Paris ['Une journée d'h…"

"I have studied the subject and painted it directly to nature [his painting 'Scheveningen strandgezicht / Scheveningen…"

"I have rented a room in Scheveningen to make studies from nature. It is a room with view on the sea; I hope to make t…"

"It was fatal news: the sudden death of our boy, a three-day illness ended his life. What is our house empty.. .,which…"

"..the art-reviews on my work in the French and English magazines.. ..[are] enough to claim that I already have reache…"

"At the coast you can see the most beautiful sea. I also made my panorama there. I regard it as my most important work…"

"Dear Brother-in-Law - Sister. We are ailing again rather well through the winter, always busy and working. It is a pi…"

"Dear Lords, I hereby have the Honor to announce You that the painting 'Het Binnen komen der Haringschuiten in Scheven…"

"Roelofs' [his teacher then] advice is to paint rather thick, that is to say firmly in the paint and use this preferab…"