To [aunt] Marie Hill,
Dearest
Why do you tempt me? I really cannot. It's impossible! Be happy? The only thought I have in my mind is to immerse myself in my art, to merge completely with it until I can begin to express what I really feel – and after that to be consumed even more by it. Even if I wanted to, I could not leave here [Worpswede]... I want to live here. I want to 'live' – and develop further as a person and as an artist... Can you understand this? I think you can. And do you approve? I hope so. In any case, I can't do any different..