The effect of sincerity is to give one's work the character of a protest. The painter, being concerned only with conveying his impression, simply seeks to be himself and no one else.

I am very depressed and deeply disgusted with painting. It is really a continual torture.

Most people think I paint fast. I paint very slowly.

I would like to paint the way a bird sings.

The richness I achieve comes from nature, the source of my inspiration.

Zaandam has enough to paint for a lifetime.

All I did was to look at what the universe showed me, to let my brush bear witness to it.