Theo van Gogh to Vincent van Gogh. Paris, Saturday, 16 November 1889.

Saturday, 16 November 1889

Metadata Source status: Original manuscript

Location: Amsterdam, Van Gogh Museum, inv. nos. b747 a-b V/1962

Date: Letter headed: Paris le 16 Nov: 1889.

Additional: Letter 817 from Gauguin was enclosed.

Original [1r:1] Paris le 16 Nov: 1889 Mon cher Vincent, Je tenvois sous ce pli une lettre que Gauguin ma envoy pour toi.1 Le bois dont il te parle est galement arriv ii.3 Quel excellent ouvrier il est, ceci est travaill avec un soin qui doit lui avoir demand normment de travail. Surtout la figure de femme est trs belle, en bois cir, tandis que les figures environnantes sont en bois rude & [1v:2] colories. Cest videmment bizarre & nexprime pas une ide bien nette mais cest beau comme un travail japonais, o galement il est difficile, au moins pour un europen, de saisir

1 The enclosed letter from Gauguin2 is letter 817. 3 For Gauguin4s Be in love, you will be happy , see letter 817, n. 13.

1 2 Theo van Gogh to Vincent van Gogh. Paris, Saturday, 16 November 1889. la signification, mais o il faut admirer les combinaisons de lignes & les beaux morceaux. Lensemble est dun ton tres sonore. Je voudrais bien que tu pouvais le voir. Tu laimerais certainement. Jai t cette semaine chez Bernard qui ma montr ce quil a fait dans le dernier temps. Je trouve quil a fait beaucoup de progrs. Son dessin est moins dtermin mais nexiste pas moins. Il y a plus de souplesse dans sa touche. Chez lui[1v:3] il y a une influence plus directe des primitifs, ainsi il a fait une figure agenouill entour danges. Le terrain est grands carraux et les figures sont poses comme sur un chiquier mais il y a une figure dange qui a vraiment de la noblesse.5 Lui aussi a fait un Christ au jardin des oliviers. Un Christ violet cheveux rouges avec un ange jaune.7 Cest bien difficile comprendre et la recherche du style donne souvent quelque chose de ridicule ses figures mais il en sortira peut tre quelque chose de bien. Quand on voit beaucoup de tableaux, tellement que lon voudrait quelquefois ne pas en voir pour quelque temps, ce qui satisfait alors le plus cest les choses saines, vraies, sans-proccupations dcole ou dides abstraites. Tu me[1r:4] diras peut tre que toute oeuvre dart doit tre le rsultat de quantit de combinaisons compliques, cest juste, mais chez le peintre aussi il doit y arriver des moments quil est tellement inspir par son motif ou son sujet quil le rend tel quon pourrait le saisir, ou au moins le sentir comme une chose devant lequel on se trouve. Je sens cela devant plusieurs de tes toiles. Il y en a un chez Tangui en ce moment ltalage, une vue sur la campagne au printemps avec des peupliers gris traversant la toile de faon quon ne voit ni le bas de larbre ni le sommet. 8 Je laime normment. Cest vraiment nature cela. Ce matin il y avait une lettre pour toi venant des XX

5 Emile Bernard6, The annunciation, 1889 (private collection). Ill. 2309. See Luthi 1982, pp. 36-37, cat. no. 216; exhib. cat. Mannheim 1990, pp. 209-213, cat. no. 62. 7 Emile Bernard, Christ in the Garden of Olives, 1889 (present whereabouts unknown). Ill. 2. 8 Orchard in blossom with a view of Arles (F 516 / JH 1685). Theo van Gogh to Vincent van Gogh. Paris, Saturday, 16 November 1889. 3

Bruxelles, jai mis ton adresse dessus.9 Un mot de Maus que je reois en mme [2r:5] temps me dit quils seront heureux si tu exposes, tableaux & dessins. Lui quand il est venu aimait beaucoup les pommiers en fleurs,11 mais van Rijsselberghe saisit mieux ce que tu cherches dans les choses plus rcentes.13 Le portrait de Roulin,16 les tournesols17 etc. Il faut que tu me dises un peu ce que tu penses de lexposition & ce que tu veux y envoyer. Je crois quil y 5 7 mtres de cimse.18 Cette anne ils ont invit Puvis de Chavanne, Bartholom, Czanne, Dubois Pillet, Forain, Signac, L. Pissarro, Hayet, Renoir, Sisley & de Lautrec & toi.19 Si mauvais qutait lexposition des Indpendants, Les Iris23 ont t vu par beaucoup de personnes qui men parlent. Si on pouvait avoir Paris une exposition rgulire des [2v:6] artistes peu connus par le public cela serait une bonne chose, mais il faudrait presque que cela ft une exposition permanente. Les locaux sont si chers ii, cela sera toujours un inconvenient. Pissarro ma crit, que sa femme & lui ont dj regard un peu dans le pays daprs une pension pour toi, mais il dit quil croit que tu seras mieux chez ce Dr Auvers; il dit devoir le voir sous peu.24 Je suis content que tu te sens mieux portant; plus que tu aies de forces phisiques mieux cela vaut. Ecris moi une fois comment sont tes vtements, est ce que tu nas pas besoin de quelque chose de chaud? Jo se porte heureusement

9 This was letter 818 from Octave Maus10. 11 Theo had written in letter 792 that Maus12 had come to see Vincents paintings. Theo must be referring to the orchard paintings from the spring of 1888, because those from 1889 had not yet arrived in Paris when Maus visited. 13 Theo had written in letter 813 that Theo van Rijsselberghe14 had seen Vincents canvases at Tanguy15s. 16 Joseph Roulin (F 436 / JH 1675). See letter 774, n. 3.

17 Theo must be referring to Sunflowers in a vase (F 454 / JH 1562) and Sunflowers in a vase (F 456 / JH 1561), which Vincent thought suitable to be exhibited (see, for example, letter 741). 18 Read: cimaise. 19 For the artists invited to participate, see letter 792, n. 8. In the end, Pierre Puvis de Chavannes20, Albert Bartholom21 and Louis Forain22 did not exhibit any work. 23 Irises (F 608 / JH 1691). 24 On 14 November 1889, Theo thanked Pissarro25 and his wife26 for their efforts: Thank you for being so willing to take the trouble to see if there isnt a boarding-house to be found where my brother would be comfortable, and Mrs Pissarro is most kind to take an interest in it too. It seems to me that if he could stay at Auvers, near this doctor of whom youve spoken, that would be excellent. (Je vous remercie de ce que vous voulez bien vous donner la peine de voir sil ny a pas une pension trouver o mon frre serait bien et madame Pissarro est bien aimable de sen occuper aussi. Il me semble que sil pouvait rester Auvers, prs de ce mdecin dont vous mavez parl, cela serait excellent). Pissarro must have been reluctant to confront his children with the unstable Van Gogh. See Jampoller 1986, p. 57 and Correspondance Pissarro 1980-1991, vol. 2, p. 299 (n. 2). 4 Theo van Gogh to Vincent van Gogh. Paris, Saturday, 16 November 1889.

bien & te dit bien bonjour, il commence dj faire hiver ii. Est ce que le mistral souffle St Remy comme Arles? Bonne poigne de mains & tout toi Theo

Translation [1r:1] Paris, 16 Nov. 1889 My dear Vincent, I enclose a letter which Gauguin27 sent me for you.28 The wood he speaks of has also arrived here.30 What an excellent workman he is, this is worked with a care that must have demanded an enormous amount of work from him. Above all the womans figure is very beautiful, in waxed wood, [1v:2] while the surrounding figures are in rough wood and coloured. Its obviously bizarre and doesnt express a very clear idea, but its beautiful like a piece of Japanese work, the significance of which is also hard to grasp, at least for a European, but in which one must admire the combinations of lines and the beautiful pieces. The whole has a very sonorous tone. Id very much like you to be able to see it. You would certainly like it. Ive been to Bernard32s this week, and he showed me what he has done lately. I think hes made a lot of progress. His drawing is less determined, [1v:3] but its there all the same. Theres more flexibility in his touch. With him theres a more direct influence from the primitives, thus he has done a kneeling figure surrounded by angels. The ground is in large squares, and the figures are posed as if on a chessboard, but theres one angel figure which really has nobility.33 Hes also done a Christ in the Garden of Olives. A red-headed, violet Christ with a yellow angel.35 Its very difficult to understand, and the search for style often lends something ridiculous to his figures, but perhaps something good will come of it. When one sees a lot of paintings, so many that sometimes one would like not to see any for a while, what then satisfies one the most are the healthy, real things, without preoccupations about schools or abstract [1r:4] ideas. Youll perhaps tell me that any work of art must be the result of a quantity of complicated combinations, thats right, but with the painter also there must be moments when hes so inspired by his motif or his subject that he renders it as one might grasp it, or at least feel it like a thing one finds oneself in front of. I feel that in front of several of your canvases. Theres one at Tanguy36s at the moment, in the shop window, a view over the countryside in springtime with grey poplars crossing the canvas in such a way that you cant see either the bottom or the top of the tree.37 I like it enormously. That truly is nature. This morning there was a letter for you from Les Vingt [2r:5] in Brussels, I put your address on it.38 A line from Maus40 that I received at the same time tells me that theyd be happy if you would exhibit, paintings and drawings. When he came, he very much liked the apple trees in blossom,41 but Van Rijsselberghe43 grasps better what youre

27 Paul (Eugne Henri) Gauguin (1848-1903) French artist 28 The enclosed letter from Gauguin29 is letter 817. 30 For Gauguin31s Be in love, you will be happy , see letter 817, n. 13.

32 Emile Bernard (1868-1941) French artist and writer 33 Emile Bernard34, The annunciation, 1889 (private collection). Ill. 2309. See Luthi 1982, pp. 36-37, cat. no. 216; exhib. cat. Mannheim 1990, pp. 209-213, cat. no. 62. 35 Emile Bernard, Christ in the Garden of Olives, 1889 (present whereabouts unknown). Ill. 2. 36 Julien Franois Tanguy (pre Tanguy) (1825-1894) seller of artists’ materials in Paris 37 Orchard in blossom with a view of Arles (F 516 / JH 1685). 38 This was letter 818 from Octave Maus39. 40 Octave Maus (1856-1919) secretary of Les Vingt in Brussels 41 Theo had written in letter 792 that Maus42 had come to see Vincents paintings. Theo must be referring to the orchard paintings from the spring of 1888, because those from 1889 had not yet arrived in Paris when Maus visited. 43 Theo van Rijsselberghe Theo van Gogh to Vincent van Gogh. Paris, Saturday, 16 November 1889. 5 seeking in the more recent things.44 The portrait of Roulin,47 The sunflowers48 etc. You must tell me what you think of the exhibition and what you want to send there. I believe theres 5 to 7 metres of wall space. This year theyve invited Puvis de Chavannes49, Bartholom50, Czanne51, Dubois-Pillet52, Forain53, Signac54, L. Pissarro55, Hayet56, Renoir57, Sisley58 and De Lautrec59 and you.60 However bad the Independents exhibition was, The Irises64 were seen by a lot of people who talk to me about them. If we could have a regular exhibition in Paris of artists little known [2v:6] by the public, that would be a good thing, but it would have to be almost a permanent exhibition. The premises are so expensive here, that will always be a drawback. Pissarro65 wrote to me that his wife66 and he have already had a little look round the country for a place for you to lodge, but he says that he thinks youll be better off with this Dr67 at Auvers; he says hes to see him shortly.68 Im pleased that you feel better; the more physical strength you have, the better. Write to me sometime about how your clothes are, dont you need something warm? Fortunately Jo71 is well and sends her warm regards. Winters already starting here. Does the mistral blow in St-Rmy as it does in Arles? Good handshake and Ever yours,

(1862-1926) Belgian artist 44 Theo had written in letter 813 that Theo van Rijsselberghe45 had seen Vincents canvases at Tanguy46s. 47 Joseph Roulin (F 436 / JH 1675). See letter 774, n. 3.

48 Theo must be referring to Sunflowers in a vase (F 454 / JH 1562) and Sunflowers in a vase (F 456 / JH 1561), which Vincent thought suitable to be exhibited (see, for example, letter 741). 49 Pierre Puvis de Chavannes (1824-1898) French artist 50 Albert Bartholom (1848-1928) French artist 51 Paul Czanne (1839-1906) French artist 52 Albert Dubois-Pillet (1846-1890) French artist 53 Jean Louis Forain (1852-1931) French artist 54 Paul Signac (1863-1935) French artist 55 Lucien Pissarro (1863-1944) French artist, son of Camille Pissarro 56 Louis Hayet (1864-1940) French artist 57 Pierre Auguste Renoir (1841-1919) French artist 58 Paul Signac (1863-1935) French artist 59 Henri Marie Raymond de Toulouse-Lautrec (1864-1901) French artist 60 For the artists invited to participate, see letter 792, n. 8. In the end, Pierre Puvis de Chavannes61, Albert Bartholom62 and Louis Forain63 did not exhibit any work. 64 Irises (F 608 / JH 1691). 65 Camille Jacob Pissarro (1830-1903) French artist 66 Julie Pissarro-Vellay (1838-1926) wife of Camille Pissarro 67 Paul-Ferdinand Gachet Sr (1828-1909) doctor in Auvers-sur-Oise 68 On 14 November 1889, Theo thanked Pissarro69 and his wife70 for their efforts: Thank you for being so willing to take the trouble to see if there isnt a boarding-house to be found where my brother would be comfortable, and Mrs Pissarro is most kind to take an interest in it too. It seems to me that if he could stay at Auvers, near this doctor of whom youve spoken, that would be excellent. (Je vous remercie de ce que vous voulez bien vous donner la peine de voir sil ny a pas une pension trouver o mon frre serait bien et madame Pissarro est bien aimable de sen occuper aussi. Il me semble que sil pouvait rester Auvers, prs de ce mdecin dont vous mavez parl, cela serait excellent). Pissarro must have been reluctant to confront his children with the unstable Van Gogh. See Jampoller 1986, p. 57 and Correspondance Pissarro 1980-1991, vol. 2, p. 299 (n. 2). 71 Johanna (Jo or Net) Gezina van Gogh-Bonger (1862-1925) wife of Theo van Gogh 6 Theo van Gogh to Vincent van Gogh. Paris, Saturday, 16 November 1889.

Theo