To Theo van Gogh and Jo van Gogh-Bonger. Auvers-sur-Oise, Sunday, 25 May 1890.

Sunday, 25 May 1890

Metadata Source status: Original manuscript

Location: Amsterdam, Van Gogh Museum, inv. no. b686 V/1962

Date: On Monday, 2 June Theo wrote that he had wanted to reply earlier to the present letter, which must have been written shortly before a Tuesday (see l. 4). Van Gogh remarks that it has been raining yesterday and today (ll. 53-54). This must have been Saturday, 24 and Sunday, 25 May (Mto-France). On the basis of this information we have dated the letter to Sunday, 25 May 1890. On the same day Theo recorded in his account book the 50 francs for which Vincent thanks him in the first lines of the present letter (see Account book 2002, p. 45). See also Hulsker 1998, p. 51.

Additional: This letter, which confirms the receipt this morning (ll. 1*-2) of the money Theo sent, most likely caused Vincent to decide not to send RM20 (this explains why the two letters contain several identical passages). Van Gogh enclosed a letter for Isacson (cf. RM21).

Original [1r:1] Mon cher Theo, ma chre Jo, merci de ta lettre que jai reue ce matin1 et des cinquante francs qui sy trouvaient. Aujourdhui jai revu le Dr Gachet et je vais peindre chez lui Mardi matin puis je dinerais avec lui et aprs il viendrait voir ma peinture. Il me parait trs raisonable mais est aussi decourag dans son metier de mdecin de campagne que moi de ma peinture. Alors je lui ai dit que jechangerais pourtant volontiers mtier pour mtier. Enfin je crois volontiers que je finirai par tre amis avec lui. Il ma dailleurs dit que si de la melancolie ou autre chse deviendrait trop forte pour que je la supporte, il pouvait bien encore y faire quelque chse pour en diminuer lintensit et quil ne fallait

1 Unlike other letters Vincent received from Theo (and Jo2) in this period, this letter has not been preserved.

1 2 To Theo van Gogh and Jo van Gogh-Bonger. Auvers-sur-Oise, Sunday, 25 May 1890. pas se gner dtre franc avec lui. Eh bien ce moment-l o jaurai besoin de lui peut certes venir, pourtant jusqu aujourdhui cela va bien. Et cela peut devenir encore mieux, je crois toujours que cest surtout une maladie du midi que jai attrapp et que le retour ici suffira pour dissiper tout cela. Souvent, fort souvent je pense ton petit et je me dis alors que je voudrais quil ft grand assez pour venir la campagne. Car cest le meilleur systme de les lever l. Combien je souhaiterais que toi, Jo et le petit preniez un repos la campagne au lieu du voyage traditionnel en Hollande. Oui je sais bien que la mre voudra absolument voir le petit et cest certes une raison dy aller. pourtant certes elle comprendrait si ctait rellement lavantage du petit. Ici on est loin assez de Paris pour que ce soit la vraie campagne mais combien namoins chang depuis Daubigny. Mais non pas chang dune faon dplaisante, il y a beaucoup de villas & habitations diverses modernes et bourgeoises, tres souriantes, ensoleilles et fleuries.[1v:2] Cela dans une campagne presque grasse, juste ce moment ci du dveloppement dune socit nouvelle dans la vieille, na rien de desagreable; il y a beaucoup de bientre dans lair. Un calme la Puvis de Chavannes jy vois ou y crois voir, pas dusines, mais de la belle verdure en abondance et en bon ordre. Veux tu me dire loccasion quel est le tableau qua achet Mlle Bock. Je dois crire son frre pour les remercier et puis je proposerais lchange de deux de mes tudes contre une de chacun deux. 3 Ci inclus un mot que tu enverrais Isaacson s.v.p. 6 Jai un dessin dune vieille vigne dont je me propose de faire une toile de 307 puis une tude de maronniers rose8 et une de maronniers blancs. 9 Mais si les circonstances me le permettront jespre faire un peu de figure. Vaguement des tableaux se prsentent ma vision, quil prendra du temps pour mettre au clair mais a viendra peu peu. Si javais pas t malade, depuis longtemps jaurais ecrit Bock et Isaacson. Ma malle nest pas encore arrive, ce qui membte, jai envoy ce matin une dpche. Je te remercie davance de la toile et du papier.10 Hier et aujourdhui il pleut & fait de lorage mais cest pas desagrable de revoir ces effets-l. Les lits ne sont pas arrivs non plus. 11 Mais quoi quil

3 Anna Boch4 had bought Van Goghs The red vineyard (F 495 / JH 1626); see letter 855, n. 5. An exchange between her brother, Eugne Boch5, and Van Gogh took place in June 1890 (see letter 890, n. 2). 6 This letter is not known; cf. letter RM21. 7 Vineyard with a woman (F 1624 / JH 1985). There is no known no. 30 canvas of this motif; the same house and garden do occur, however, in Vineyard and houses (F 794 / JH 2002), which measures 51 x 58 cm. See exhib. cat. Amsterdam 2005, p. 332. 8 Chestnut tree in blossom (F 751 / JH 1992). 9 Chestnut tree in blossom (F 752 / JH 1991). 10 Van Gogh had asked for canvas and paper in letter 874. 11 Ginoux12 was supposed to send the beds from Arles (see letter 871). To Theo van Gogh and Jo van Gogh-Bonger. Auvers-sur-Oise, Sunday, 25 May 1890. 3 en soit de ces embtements, je me sens heureux de ne plus tre si loin de vous autres et des amis. Jespre que ta sant ira bien. Cela ma pourtant paru que tu avais moins dapetit que dans le temps et daprs ce que disent les medecins pour nos temperaments il faudrait une nourriture trs solide. Sois donc sage l-dedans, surtout Jo aussi ayant son enfant nourrir. Vrai il faudrait bien doubler la dose, ce serait rien exagrer quand il y a des enfants faire et nourrir. Sans a cest comme un train qui marche lentement l o la route est droite. Temps assez de moderer la vapeur quand la route est plus accidente. Poigne de main en pense. t. v. Vincent.

Translation [1r:1] My dear Theo, my dear Jo13, Thank you for your letter which I received this morning,14 and for the fifty francs that were inside it. Today I saw Dr Gachet16 again, and Im going to paint at his place on Tuesday morning, then Im going to lunch with him and afterwards hell come to see my painting. He seems very reasonable to me, but is as discouraged in his profession of country doctor as I with my painting. So I told him that I would, however, gladly swap profession for profession. Anyway, I readily think that Ill end up being friends with him. He told me, besides, that if melancholy or something else were to become too strong for me to bear, he could well do something again to lessen its intensity, and that I mustnt be embarrassed to be open with him. Well, that moment when I have need of him may indeed come, however up to today things are going well. And they may get even better, I still believe that its above all an illness of the south that I caught, and that the return here will be enough to dispel all that. Often, very often, I think of your little one, and I then tell myself that I would like him to be big enough to come to the country. For its the best system of bringing them up here. How I would like you, Jo17 and the little one18 to have a rest in the country instead of the traditional journey to Holland. Yes, Im well aware that Mother19 will absolutely want to see the little one, and its certainly a reason to go there. However, she would certainly understand if it were really in the little ones best interests. Here were far enough from Paris for it to be the real countryside, but nevertheless, how changed since Daubigny20. But not changed in an unpleasant way, there are many villas and various modern and middle-class dwellings, very jolly, sunny and covered with flowers. That in an almost lush [1v:2] countryside, just at this moment of the development of a new society in the old one, has nothing disagreeable about it; theres a lot of well-being in the air. I see or think I see a calm there la Puvis de Chavannes21, no factories, but beautiful greenery in abundance and in good order.

13 Johanna (Jo or Net) Gezina van Gogh-Bonger (1862-1925) wife of Theo van Gogh 14 Unlike other letters Vincent received from Theo (and Jo15) in this period, this letter has not been preserved. 16 Paul-Ferdinand Gachet Sr (1828-1909) doctor in Auvers-sur-Oise 17 Johanna (Jo or Net) Gezina van Gogh-Bonger (1862-1925) wife of Theo van Gogh 18 Vincent Willem van Gogh (1890-1978) son of Theo van Gogh 19 Anna Cornelia van Gogh-Carbentus (1819-1907) wife of Theodorus van Gogh, mother of Vincent 20 Charles-Franois Daubigny (1817-1878) French artist 21 Pierre Puvis de Chavannes (1824-1898) French artist 4 To Theo van Gogh and Jo van Gogh-Bonger. Auvers-sur-Oise, Sunday, 25 May 1890.

When you have the opportunity, will you tell me which painting Miss Boch22 bought? I must write to her brother23 to thank them, and then I would propose the exchange of two of my studies for one by each of them.24 Enclosed is a note which you will please send to Isacson27.28 I have a drawing of an old vineyard of which I plan to do a no. 30 canvas,29 then a study of pink chestnut trees30 and one of white chestnut trees.31 But if circumstances permit, I hope to do a little figure work. Paintings vaguely present themselves to my sight which it will take time to shape, but that will come little by little. If I hadnt been ill, I would have written to Boch32 and to Isacson33 long since. My trunk hasnt arrived yet, which annoys me, I sent a telegram this morning. Thank you in advance for the canvas and the paper.34 Yesterday and today it rains and is stormy, but it isnt unpleasant to see these effects again. The beds havent arrived either.35 But despite these annoyances, I feel happy no longer to be so far from you all and our friends. I hope that your health will be good. It seemed to me, though, that you had less appetite than before, and from what the doctors say, we should have very solid food for our temperaments. So be sensible about it, especially Jo37 too, as she has her child38 to feed. Truly, the amount should be doubled, it wouldnt be any exaggeration when there are children to make and feed. Without that its like a train moving slowly where the route is straight. Time enough to reduce steam when the route is more uneven. Handshake in thought. Ever yours, Vincent.

22 Anna Boch (1848-1936) Belgian artist 23 Eugne Guillaume Boch (1855-1941) Belgian artist 24 Anna Boch25 had bought Van Goghs The red vineyard (F 495 / JH 1626); see letter 855, n. 5. An exchange between her brother, Eugne Boch26, and Van Gogh took place in June 1890 (see letter 890, n. 2). 27 Joseph Jacob Isacson (1859-1942) Dutch writer and artist 28 This letter is not known; cf. letter RM21. 29 Vineyard with a woman (F 1624 / JH 1985). There is no known no. 30 canvas of this motif; the same house and garden do occur, however, in Vineyard and houses (F 794 / JH 2002), which measures 51 x 58 cm. See exhib. cat. Amsterdam 2005, p. 332. 30 Chestnut tree in blossom (F 751 / JH 1992). 31 Chestnut tree in blossom (F 752 / JH 1991). 32 Eugne Guillaume Boch (1855-1941) Belgian artist 33 Joseph Jacob Isacson (1859-1942) Dutch writer and artist 34 Van Gogh had asked for canvas and paper in letter 874. 35 Ginoux36 was supposed to send the beds from Arles (see letter 871). 37 Johanna (Jo or Net) Gezina van Gogh-Bonger (1862-1925) wife of Theo van Gogh 38 Vincent Willem van Gogh (1890-1978) son of Theo van Gogh