英文
JULY 24.
You insist so much on my not neglecting my drawing, that it would be as well for me to say nothing as to confess how little I have lately done.
I never felt happier, I never understood nature better, even down to the veriest stem or smallest blade of grass; and yet I am unable to express myself: my powers of execution are so weak, everything seems to swim and float before me, so that I cannot make a clear, bold outline. But I fancy I should succeed better if I had some clay or wax to model. I shall try, if this state of mind continues much longer, and will take to modelling, if I only knead dough.
I have commenced Lotte’s portrait three times, and have as often disgraced myself. This is the more annoying, as I was formerly very happy in taking likenesses. I have since sketched her profile, and must content myself with that.
中文
七月二十四日
你是那么担心，生怕我把画画给荒疏了，我本想压根儿不提此事，免得告诉你说，近来我很少画画。
我从来还不曾如此幸福过；我对自然的感受，哪怕小到一块石头，一根青草，也从来还不曾这么充实，这么亲切过。可是——我不知如何表达自己意思才好——我的想象力这么微弱，一切在我心里都游移不定，摇摇晃晃，我简直抓不住任何轮廓。不过我仍自信，我要是手头有黏土或者蜡泥，我也会塑造出点什么来的。要是黏土保存得更久，我就取黏土来捏，即便捏出些饼子也好。
绿蒂的肖像我已画过三次，三次都出了丑。这事令我极为懊恼，尤其因为我前些时候一直很成功。后来我就画了一张她的剪影像聊以自慰。
