To Theo . , Thursday, 5 July 1888.

Thursday, 5 July 1888

Metadata Source status: Original manuscript

Location: , , inv. no. b549 V/1962

Date: The letter must date from early July: Van Gogh refers to the consignment of painting supplies from Tasset (ll. 26-27) which he had received at the end of June (see letter 635). The fact that he had recently paid the rent indicates that it was towards the beginning of the month (ll. 40-41). In letter 637 of Sunday, 8 or Monday, 9 July he says referring to the present letter that he wrote last Thursday, which means that it must have been written on Thursday, 5 July 1888.

Additional: Original [1r:1] Mon cher Theo, le travail me tient tellement que je ne peux pas arriver crire. Jaurais bien encore voulu crire Gauguin car je crains quil ne soit plus malade quil ne dit sa dernire lettre au crayon en avait tellement lair. Dans ce cas, que faire je nai pas encore de rponse de Russell.1 Hier jtais au soleil couchant dans une bruyre pierreuse o croissent des chnes tres petits et tordus, dans le fond une ruine sur la colline4 et dans le vallon du bl. Ctait romantique, on ne peut davantage, la Monticelli, le soleil versait des rayons tres jaunes sur les buissons et le terrain, absolument une pluie dor. Et toutes les lignes etaient belles, lensemble dune noblesse

1 Van Gogh had written to Russell2 about exchanging work; see letter 635. He had probably also sounded him out again about buying a painting from Gauguin3. See also letter 582, n. 2.

4 The ruin was Montmajour near Arles.

1 2 To Theo van Gogh. Arles, Thursday, 5 July 1888.

charmante. On naurait pas du tout t surpris de voir surgir soudainement des cavaliers et des dames revenant dune chasse au faucon ou dentendre la voix dun vieux troubadour Provenal. Les terrains semblaient violets, les lointains bleus.[1v:2] Jen ai rapport une tude dailleurs mais qui reste bien en dessous de ce que javais voulu faire.5 Tasset lautre jour navait pas envoy assez de blanc de zinc.6 Je men trouve trs bien de lemployer mais il a le dsavantage de scher trs lentement, ainsi par exemple des tudes faites Stes Maries ne sont pas encore sches. 7 Javais compt aller dans la Camargue mais le vtrinaire qui aurait d venir me prendre pour faire sa tourne avec lui ma laiss en plan.8 Cela mest assez egal vu que je naime que mdiocrement les taureaux sauvages. Cest ma stupfaction que japerois dj le fond de mon porte- monnaie, il est vrai que jai eu mon mois de loyer payer. Il faut bien savoir que si jen abstrais la nourriture et le logement tout le reste de mon argent sen va encore dans les toiles. En somme celles ci nous reviennent assez chres sans compter le mal quelles donnent.[1v:3] Pourtant jose esprer quun jour largent quon dpense reviendra en partie et si javais davantage de largent jen depenserais davantage encore pour chercher faire des colorations bien riches. Voici un motif nouveau. un coin de jardin avec des buissons en boule et un arbre pleureur et dans le fond des touffes de lauriers roses. Et le gazon quon vient de faucher avec les longues traines de foin qui sche au soleil. [1r:4] Un petit coin de ciel bleu vert dans le haut.9 Je suis en train de lire du Balzac, Csar Birotteau, je te lenvoie lorsque je laurai fini10 je crois que je vais relire

5 Sunset at Montmajour (F - / JH -). See Louis van Tilborgh et al. 2013. 6 This relates to the consignment whose receipt was confirmed in letter 635. 7 Van Gogh had painted three studies in Saintes-Maries: Fishing boats at sea (F 415 / JH 1452), Fishing boats at sea (F 417 / JH 1453) and View of Saintes-Maries (F 416 / JH 1447). 8 See letter 629, n. 14, for this planned expedition to the Camargue. 9 The letter sketch Newly mown lawn with a weeping tree (F - / JH 1500) was done after the painting of the same title F 428 / JH 1499. 10 In Honor de Balzac11s Histoire de la grandeur et de la dcadence de Csar Birotteau (1837), the character Birotteau owns a perfumery shop that flourishes as a result of his honesty and hard work. His peaceful life is thrown into chaos, however, when he speculates in an attempt to increase his fortune. This brings him to the edge of ruin and it is only after three years of poverty and hard grind that he manages to get back on his feet again. To Theo van Gogh. Arles, Thursday, 5 July 1888. 3 le tout de Balzac. En venant ici javais espr quil y aurait faire des amateurs ici jusquici je nai pas avanc dun seul centimtre dans le coeur des gens. Maintenant Marseille? Je ne sais mais cela pourrait bien ntre rien quune illusion. En tout cas jai cess de spculer un peu l-dessus. Un grand nombre de journes se passe donc sans que je dise un mot personne que pour demander diner ou un caf. Et cela a t ainsi ds le commencement. Jusqu prsent la solitude ne ma pourtant pas beaucoup gn, tellement jai trouv intressant le soleil plus fort et son effet sur la nature. Ecris moi si tu peux un jour ou deux jours plus tt, la fin semaine sera un peu raide. Poigne de main. t. t.

Translation [1r:1] My dear Theo, Work occupies me so much, I cant manage to write. Id have liked to write to Gauguin12 again, because I fear he may be iller than he says his last letter in pencil looked so much that way. In that case, whats to be done I have no reply from Russell13 yet.14 Yesterday, at sunset, I was on a stony heath where very small, twisted oaks grow, in the back- ground a ruin on the hill,17 and wheatfields in the valley. It was romantic, it couldnt be more so, la Monticelli18, the sun was pouring its very yellow rays over the bushes and the ground, abso- lutely a shower of gold. And all the lines were beautiful, the whole scene had a charming nobility. You wouldnt have been at all surprised to see knights and ladies suddenly appear, returning from hunting with hawks, or to hear the voice of an old Provenal troubadour. The fields seemed purple, the distances blue. And I brought back a study of it too, but it was well below what Id wished to [1v:2] do.19 Tasset20 hadnt sent enough zinc white the other day.21 I get on very well using it, but it has the disadvantage of drying very slowly, so, for example, the studies done at Saintes-Maries arent dry yet.22 Id planned to go to the Camargue, but the vet who ought to have come to pick me up to do his rounds with him left me in the lurch.23 I dont really mind, as Im only moderately fond of wild

12 Paul (Eugne Henri) Gauguin (1848-1903) French artist 13 John Peter Russell (1858-1930) Australian artist 14 Van Gogh had written to Russell15 about exchanging work; see letter 635. He had probably also sounded him out again about buying a painting from Gauguin16. See also letter 582, n. 2.

17 The ruin was Montmajour Abbey near Arles. 18 Adolphe Joseph Thomas Monticelli (1824-1886) French artist 19 Sunset at Montmajour (F - / JH -). See Louis van Tilborgh et al. 2013. 20 Guillaume Charles Tasset (1843-1925) seller of artists’ materials in Paris 21 This relates to the consignment whose receipt was confirmed in letter 635. 22 Van Gogh had painted three studies in Saintes-Maries: Fishing boats at sea (F 415 / JH 1452), Fishing boats at sea (F 417 / JH 1453) and View of Saintes-Maries (F 416 / JH 1447). 23 See letter 629, n. 14, for this planned expedition to the Camargue. 4 To Theo van Gogh. Arles, Thursday, 5 July 1888.

bulls. Its to my astonishment that I can already see the bottom of my wallet; its true that I had my months rent to pay. You must clearly know that if I deduct food and lodging, all the rest of my money still runs away on canvases. In short, they turn out rather expensive, without counting the [1v:3] trouble they cause. However, I dare hope that one day the money we spend will come back in part, and if I had more money I would spend even more trying to find good rich colorations. Heres a new subject. A corner of a garden with round bushes and a weeping tree, and in the background, clumps of oleanders. And the lawn that has just been mown, with long wisps of hay [1r:4] drying in the sun. A little corner of blue green sky at the top.24 Im reading Balzac25, Csar Birotteau, Ill send it to you when Ive finished it26 I think Ill re-read all of Balzac. When I came here I had hoped it would be possible to create art lovers here so far, I havent made a centimetres progress into peoples hearts. Now Marseille? I dont know, but that could well be nothing but an illusion. In any case, Ive rather stopped speculating about it. So, many days pass without my saying a word to anyone except to order supper or a coffee. And its been like that from the start. But up until now loneliness hasnt bothered me very much, Ive found the stronger sunshine and its effect on nature so interesting. Write to me a day or two earlier if you can; the end of the week will be a bit tight. Handshake. Ever yours, Vincent

24 The letter sketch Newly mown lawn with a weeping tree (F - / JH 1500) was done after the painting of the same title F 428 / JH 1499. 25 Honor de Balzac (1799-1850) French writer 26 In Honor de Balzac27s Histoire de la grandeur et de la dcadence de Csar Birotteau (1837), the character Birotteau owns a perfumery shop that flourishes as a result of his honesty and hard work. His peaceful life is thrown into chaos, however, when he speculates in an attempt to increase his fortune. This brings him to the edge of ruin and it is only after three years of poverty and hard grind that he manages to get back on his feet again.