Besides, the entire impressionism usually presented merely the things from the outside. And sometimes they did it so perfectly that a seventeen[the] … - Jan Mankes

For example, in recent times I was looking to avoid in my works the greasy parts, which in the dark places [of the painting] are obstructing the material expression so heavily to appear. Rubbing with pumice and (the use of a lot of) oil I dispensed and then, look... like in my older works all details seem to appear much better, like in all the feathers of the crow; The job now has become much bigger, but no problem. (translation from original Dutch: Fons Heijnsbroek)

(original Dutch: citaat van Jan Mankes, in het Nederlands:) Zoo zocht ik in de laatste tijd het gladdige, dat op donkere plaatsen [ in het schilderij] de stofuitdrukking zoo verhinderd te verdrijven in mijn werk. Puimen [wrijven met puimsteen] en (veel) olie werden afgeschaft, en kijk als in 't vroegere werk blijken dan alle details veel beter te geven, zooals in b.v alle veertjes der kraai, 't is nu véél meer werk, maar wat zou dat.

.. a crow, a quick, tame animal with immaculate feathering walks around here at home; I hope to be able to benefit a lot of it, because I love crows so much. The surroundings here [of ] are very different than around Delft; more forest, sometimes even heath, often overgrown with beautiful, white birch trees. I have not yet come to work outside however, because, when I think of my crow I walk home again, but may be it change, who knows. (translation from original Dutch: Fons Heijnsbroek)