..at home [in Brussels, 1869] I was messing around all winter long with a painting; it was a coast, but painted so primitive. Then I said: you must s… - Hendrik Willem Mesdag

(original Dutch: citaat van Hendrik Willem Mesdag's brief, in het Nederlands:) Het was wel fataal nieuws: de plotselinge dood van onze jongen, een ziekte van drie dagen maakte een einde aan zijn leven. Wat is ons huis leeg.. .,die gedurende 8 jaren [leeftijd van hun zoon] de illusie van ons leven was. Gelukkig voor ons dat we van kunst houden en laten wij hopen dat wij {Mesdag èn Sientje, zijn vrouw] doorgaan ons leven te wijden aan ons schilderen, dat mij reeds zo veel genot heeft gegeven..

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 there beautiful things, and to keep moving forward. (translation from original Dutch: Fons Heijnsbroek)

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 [making] new studies has not yet come, it is always a nice variation. Now it is every time again sea and pinks, etc. [subjects in his paintings]. - For Paris I am very busy - To Vienna a painting will be send.. .A second large painting has gone to Brussels - A [xxxx?] will offer drawings of us [drawings of him and his wife] and , at this moment they are crossing the Great Water, with destination to New York where they will be exhibited - we hope with success - Two beautiful paintings has enriched our collection again, one of Dupre and one of Rousseau. (translation from original Dutch: Fons Heijnsbroek)