I also sold some drawings [he means his watercolors] - the Dutch pieces [he painted in The Netherlands] sell rather well [in Brussels, where he lived then]. People seem to prefer colored drawings here. (translation from original Dutch: Fons Heijnsbroek)

(original Dutch: citaat van Jan Mankes, in het Nederlands:) Impressionistisch moet hij [ ] vroeger schitterende dingen gemaakt hebben, daarna is hij plots tot een zorgvol teekenen gekomen, in deze tijd heeft hij bv. doode roeken geschilderd, zoo innig zuiver en gelijk monumentaal, dat het me wel het beste scheen dat omstreeks dien tijd gemaakt werd hier [in Nederland].

.. What I made here up to now [Paris, 1920] is not very special. Only a painting of my head and Eddy [her son Edgar] with it - including houses and roofs on the background - has something of what I intend to.. ..but one thing I know now for sure. That I was shocked by the [her own] paintings I received here from Holland, for example the old man I painted. It is perhaps the best thing I ever made, but what a distress all together. I want everything gradually becoming more clear. And I want to make happy, radiant things at any cost. I mean inwardly radiant and tight and silent. I really believe this will come.. .Back home again I shall study and start from the bottom again; very simple things - study flowers, hands and people's faces and learn how to paint and draw well. (translation from original Dutch: Fons Heijnsbroek)

I wanted to paint crows in a big spot of lonely black with a digger head and paws. But stronger was nature which forced me to make a beast, sparkling of blue and purple, a subdued pleasure for the eyes. (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)

Lord, oh Lord, will I return to you once, being a genuine artist. Will all those Art lovers once behold my works with reverence and the laurel of Art then adorn my head.. .I experience so ardently all the beauty of my noble career.. .And once again I call to you, it would be much better not to live at all than being disappointed in my feeling. (translation from original Dutch text: Fons Heijnsbroek).

Dear friend! I am still staying in Oosterbeek as you can see but I will now leave in 2 days. The last days I spent on two small paintings ordered by Mr. de Visser. I painted them in a happy atmosphere.. .I send them to you because they were still wet when I sent them away and I could hardly do that to Mr. de Visser. Please, do you want to give them a layer of egg-varnish and when you discover here or there a badly seen dash, or you see a chance to make a witty thing in the paintings, oh chap, I pray you do so, because if he doesn't like them, I'll get no bread and have nasty problems, because I need the money so badly.. (translation from the original Dutch, Fons Heijnsbroek, 2018)

It is not my aim and object to paint a cow for the cow's sake or a tree for the tree's, but by means of the whole to create a beautiful and huge impression which nature sometimes creates, also with most simple means. (translation from the Dutch original: Fons Heijnsbroek)

I have focused on your desire to bring in more effect [in the watercolor].. ..with more light in the drawing, [what] was not the least difficult.. ..[this operation] has passed tricky moments; but I believe I have remained master of the area and have made a drawing [watercolor] of aspect [?] and color. (translation from original Dutch: Fons Heijnsbroek)

My brother Jaap was born as a painter, which means he really enjoyed it. (translation from original Dutch, Fons Heijnsbroek, 2018)

I remember I stood stunned as a boy, in front of the paintings of the old [Dutch] masters in our museums, how they let speak Nature to you. If I have learned to see nature by someone, it was by our old masters. But most by Nature itself. (translation from Dutch, Fons Heijnsbroek, 2018)

It is my intention, never to start with modeling directly [in the painting]. In my view this is the task of the sculptor. I am modeling 'the surfaces'. Not only concerning the volumes, but also concerning the flat hues, in which I try to achieve the most subtle distinctions. I don't care for external effects. It is always the high values of the surfaces which create the painting. I always get an unbelievable rich variety of facets. Not only the colors, which thereby preserve its power, but also the color-hues are clearly distinguished from each other by no other means than the brush-stroke. (translation from original Dutch, Fons Heijnsbroek, 2018)

I was sitting in the barn, drawing a dead bird which I had put on a box. Then the barn door opened and Kees entered [an old iron-merchant, already retired] .. ..He came down next to me.. ..After a short silence he said: 'Are you painting? '.. .. it looks somewhat like that bird'. I said: 'To me that means a compliment Kees, because I am trying to draw that bird.' Stunned, he looked at me and asked, "Why are you doing that?" What could I answer? I said: Actually, I don't know myself'. Then he hoisted himself to his feet and said, I'll bring you the stuff next Monday' and he went to the door.. (translation, Fons Heijnsbroek, 2018)

I paint from my head [about his move from rural Friesland to the city of Amsterdam]. (translation from Dutch: Fons Heijnsbroek, 2018)