Contrary to popular myth, Van Gogh was actually on the verge of public recognition at the time he died. A young, soon to be influential art critic called Aurier published a glowing essay about Van Gogh. The artist, showing that he was often his own worst enemy, replied thus in a letter dated February 10/11 1890:
“You may realize now that your article would have been fairer and – it seems to me – consequently more powerful, if, when dealing with the question of the future of ‘tropical painting’ and the question of colour, you had – before speaking of me – done justice to Gauguin or Monticelli. For the role attaching to me, or that will be attached to me, will remain, I assure you, of very secondary importance.” [Van Gogh’s own underlining.]
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