Vincent van Gogh "Self-Portrait as a Buddhist Monk"

"I envy the Japanese for the enormous clarity that pervades their work. It is never dull and never seems to have been made in haste. Their work is as simple as breathing and they draw a figure with a few well chosen lines with the same ease, as effortless as buttoning up one's waistcoat....."

--Vincent van Gogh to Theo van Gogh, 24 September, 1888

W/thanks to matteo at MetaFilter