Diary of Marie Bashkirtseff
CZENUKFR

Wednesday, 10 October 1877

Do not think I am working miracles because Monsieur Julian is astonished. He is astonished because he expected the whims of a wealthy young woman playing at art. Experience I lack — but what I produce is accurate and true to life; as for the execution, it is what it can be after eight days of work.
All my fellow students draw better than I do — but none achieves so true a likeness or so accurate a proportion. What makes me believe I shall do better than they is that, while fully acknowledging their merit, I would never be satisfied to draw as they draw; whereas those who are beginning generally say: if only I could draw like so-and-so!
They have practice, study, experience — but these spinsters of forty will never do more than they do today. Those who are young... draw well and have time, but no future.
I may not succeed — but it would only be through impatience. I could kill myself for not having begun four years ago, and it seems to me it is too late.
We shall see.