SOLVED. College Art History Book-Letters Between Artists [s]

[Melissa]

A friend asked me if I could find this book from her college art history class in the 90s - I told her I knew just the people to ask!

"The book was a bunch of letters artists wrote to each other, I think I remember Van Gogh and Cezanne in there. Anyway, there was a quote about liking 'things that are impossible, I feel them like a thorn stuck in my side' I can't find the book or quote anywhere"

This mystery quote makes me think of Frida Kahlo for some reason... but I have no idea if this is anywhere near the mark

[Melissa]

"I love things that are absurd, useless, impossible, frantic, excessive, and intense, because they provoke me, because I feel them like thorns in my flesh." Poet Emile Verhaeren said it in a letter to painter Odilon Redon

Found good lead on book... think this one is solved

[Melissa]

Think it's probably Artists on Art by Robert Goldwater
https://www.goodreads.com/book/show/1...

[Lobstergirl, au gratin]

Did that turn out to be the book? Shall we move this to Solved?

[Melissa]

Yes, I and my friend both bought copies of the book!
She was overjoyed and said it was definitely the book