I have to admit The Artful Historian, when I clicked on this article to read it, my attitude was "we'll see about that!" Well I saw... and indeed you were spot on; all fresh to my eyes. While clearly they were not unseen because they were his rubbish, failed works, because they all exude his gift.

One question for you: did Vincent state in his writings that he was not overly fond of her or even disdaining of her? The quote could be read not as critical of her, but as observational, what he would have been able to perceive of her nature through the process of painting her, when he would have "listened to her soul". And perhaps he didn't truly wish to be perceived as sick, but simply as unsuited to the harshness of the world, and he even appreciated being seen by Madame Trabuc. In the asylum he was able to follow his profound calling and deepen his sensitivity in order to make his remarkable paintings.

Thank you. Wiskey.