To Theo van Gogh. Arles, on or about Monday, 25 February 1889.

on or about Monday, 25 February 1889

Metadata Source status: Original manuscript

Location: Amsterdam, Van Gogh Museum, inv. no. b625 V/1962

Date: On Tuesday, 26 February 1889 the Rev. Salles informed Theo that Vincent had been readmitted to hospital that very day, by order of the chief of police, after being at home for several days. Theo passed this news on to Jo on 27 February (see Brief Happiness 1999, p. 184). The present letter must have been written before Vincents hospitalization, because he is still at home, working on a repetition of The Berceuse. Moreover, he thanks Theo for the 50 francs he sent he had received the previous instalment of his allowance through the Rev. Salles on the 17th or 18th (see n. 7). On the basis of this information, we have dated the letter to about Monday, 25 February 1889. The letter was evidently sent later, because Theo had clearly not yet received it on Thursday, 28 February: Ive heard nothing from him personally since the letter you read. This referred to letter 747, which he had forwarded to Jo on 20 February (see FR b2041; Brief happiness 1999, pp. 172, 188 (quotation)). The present letter was perhaps posted only later because of the alarm caused by Vincents relapse.

Additional: Original [1r:1] Mon cher Theo, Merci beaucoup de ta bonne lettre et du billet de 50 fr. quelle contenait. Est-ce que ta sant toi va passablement et est ce que Paris il fait un temps supportable. Nous avons ici des journees de soleil et de vent, je me promne beaucoup pour prendre lair. Jusqu prsent je couche et je mange lhospice. Hier & aujourdhui jai commenc travailler. Lorsque Mme Roulin est partie elle aussi, pour aller vivre avec sa mre la campagne

1 2 To Theo van Gogh. Arles, on or about Monday, 25 February 1889. provisoirement, 1 alors elle a emport la berceuse. Jen avais lesquisse et deux rptitions, elle a eu bon oeil et a pris la meilleure, seulement je la refais dans ce moment.3 et je ne veux pas que celle l soit infrieure. En rponse lettre de Mouries, qui me fait plaisir, ceci:5 si Gauguin en veut, dchanger avec toi un exemplaire de la berceuse, il pourra lenvoyer en Danemark sa femme7 et volontiers de cette faon je verrais une toile de moi l-bas. Mais comme je te lai dj dit, peuttre cette toile est elle incomprhensible. 10 Jaurais aussi le desir denvoyer quelque chose en Hollande. Mais je nai pas encore mon aplomb pour tout cela.[1v:2] Est ce que tu y verras un brin de verdure dans ton nouvel appartement? je lespre. Pour ce qui est de Koning, rellement je nose pas trop lencourager venir ici, ni mme avec son entrain de semballer pour le midi, avec lexprience que jen ai actuellement.13 Sil va Nice, Menton, o cest possible15 plus sain, il ne pourra quy tre roul cause de sa bonne humeur &c. par les gens qui jouent, car cela cest une vraie peste, mme dj ici, et fausse les caractres. Mais heureusement sil y va il ny ira pas seul. Pour sa peinture certes il y a de bien belles chses ici. Mais si on a trop de contrarits, que dire et que faire alors. Enfin tu taperois que je ne sais pas encore trop quen penser. Bernard ma aussi crit, je nai pas encore pu rpondre car cest si difficile dexpliquer le caractre des difficults quon pourrait rencontrer ici et avec nos moeurs et facons de penser du nord ou de Paris cest fatal que si on y reste longtemps il faut souffrir quelque chse de pas drole dans ces parages.[1v:3] Faut pourtant admettre que dans toutes les villes

1 The mother of Augustine Roulin, Rosalie Pelicot-Dcs2, lived in rue de la Campane in Lambesc, about 40 km east of Arles (Mairie de Lambesc). 3 The sketch Van Gogh refers to is his first version: Augustine Roulin (La berceuse) (F 508 / JH 1671). The two repetitions are F 505 / JH 1669 and F 506 / JH 1670. The Roulins4 had chosen F 505 / JH 1669; the repetition of it (the fourth version) is F 507 / JH 1672. 5 Theo must have enclosed Mourier-Petersen6s letter to Vincent (letter 742). Mourier-Petersen had assumed that Vincent was no longer in Arles. 7 Mette Gauguin-Gad8 lived in Copenhagen. Gauguin9 did in fact receive a version of the Berceuse; see letter 776, n. 3. It emerges from this passage that Van Gogh wanted him to have a triptych (consisting of the Berceuse flanked by the repetitions of the sunflowers); see also letter 736, n. 12.

10 Van Gogh is probably referring here to his remark in letter 744, that his Berceuse was not correctly rendered and in that respect did not resemble the work of Cabanel11 or Bouguereau12 in the slightest. 13 Koning14 had written in letter 746 about his plan to travel with a friend to France. 15 Read: possiblement. To Theo van Gogh. Arles, on or about Monday, 25 February 1889. 3 il y a des coles de dessin et des amateurs en masse mais tu comprends que dirigs par des invalides ou des idiots des beaux arts ce nest quapparence et frime. M. Salles ma remis aussitot les 50 francs.16 Cela me fait bien plaisir que Gauguin aie termin des lithographies. 18 Je crois aussi ce que tu dis que si un jour cela prenait une tournure plus grave il faudrait suivre ce que diraient les mdecins et ne my oppose pas. Mais ce jour-l peut ne pas tre demain ou aprs demain. Maintenant il nest pas rare parait-il dans ces contres de voir toute une population mme pris dune panique ainsi Nice lors du tremblement de terre.20 Actuellement toute la ville est inquite, personne ne sachant au juste pourquoi et jai vu sur les journaux que justement dans des endroits pas fort eloigns dici il y avait de nouveau eu des secousses lgres de tremblement de terre.21 Alors plus forte raison je serais davis que pour ce qui me concerne jattende avec autant de patience que je puisse collectionner, esprant quaprs cela se rassrnera. [1r:4] un autre moment, si jetais moins impressionable, je me moquerais probablement pas mal de ce qui me parait de travers et de dtraqu dans les habitudes du pays. A prsent parfois cela me fait de leffet pas gai. Ben en somme il y a tant de peintres qui sont toqus dune faon ou dune autre que peu peu je men consolerai. Plus que jamais je comprends les souffrances de Gauguin qui a pris dans les tropiques la mme chse, une sensibilit excessive. lhopital jai entrevu justement une ngresse malade qui y reste22 et travaille comme servante. Dis lui a. Si tu disais Rivet que tu as tant dinquietudes pour moi il te rassurerait certes en te disant qu cause de ce quil y a tant de sympathie et de communaut dides entre nous tu ressens un peu la mme chse. Ne pense pas trop moi avec une ide fixe. Je me dbrouillerai dailleurs mieux si je te sais calme. Quoi quil arrive ne sommes nous

16 Salles17 wrote to Theo that Vincent had received these 50 francs, when he left the hospital (au moment o il est sorti de lhospice) (FR b1047, 26 February 1889). This must have been as early as 18 February, since Vincent wrote at the time: Today Ive just returned home for the time being (letter 747, ll. 4-5). 18 For Gauguin19s series of lithographs Suite Volpini, see letter 737, n. 7.

20 On 23 February 1887 Nice had experienced a serious earthquake that had claimed many lives. See Andr Laurenti, Les tremblements de terre des Alpes-maritimes. Nice 1998, pp. 36-45. 21 Van Gogh must be referring to the earthquake in the Dauphin on 18 February 1889, which registered 6-7 on a scale of 12 and was therefore a moderate tremor. The Courrier des Alpes reported it on 21 February. We are indebted to Genevive Patau, Institut du Physique du Globe de Paris, Dpartement de Sismologie, for this information. A report of this earthquake in the local Arles newspapers has not been traced. 22 Read: vit. 4 To Theo van Gogh. Arles, on or about Monday, 25 February 1889.

pas en grand nombre en France de ceux qui cherchent rester calmes quoi quil arrive, adversit ou prosprit. Je te serre bien la main en pense. tu est bien bon de dire que je pourrais venir Paris mais je pense que lagitation dune grande ville ne vaudra jamais rien pour moi. bientt. t..t. Vincent

Translation [1r:1] My dear Theo, Thanks very much for your kind letter and for the 50-franc note it contained. Is your own health reasonably good, and is the weather in Paris bearable? Here we have days of sunshine and wind, I walk a lot to take the air. Up to now Ive been sleeping and eating at the hospital. Yesterday and today I began to work. When Mrs Roulin23 also left, to go and live with her mother24 in the country for the time being,25 she took away the Berceuse. I had the sketch of it and two repetitions. She had a good eye and took the best one, only Im currently redoing it.27 And I dont want this one to be inferior. I have this to say in reply to Mourier29s letter, which gave me pleasure:30 if Gauguin32 wants to make an exchange with you for a version of the Berceuse, he can send it to his wife33 in Denmark,34 and in this way I would gladly see a canvas of mine there. But as Ive already told you, perhaps this canvas is incomprehensible.37 I would also wish to send something to Holland. But I havent got up my confidence for all of that yet.[1v:2] Will you see a bit of greenery there, in your new apartment? I hope so. As regards Koning40, really I darent encourage him too much to come here, nor even with his gusto to get carried away with the south, with the experience Im having of it at the moment.41 If he goes to Nice, Menton, where it may be healthier, hes bound to be cheated by the gamblers because of his good humour &c., for thats a real nuisance, even here already, and warps characters. But fortunately, if he goes there he wont go there alone. For his painting, certainly there are some very fine things here.

23 Augustine Alex Roulin-Pelicot (1851-1930) wife of Joseph Roulin 24 Rosalie Pelicot-Dcs (1816-1892) mother of Augustine Alex Roulin-Pelicot 25 The mother of Augustine Roulin, Rosalie Pelicot-Dcs26, lived in rue de la Campane in Lambesc, about 40 km east of Arles (Mairie de Lambesc). 27 The sketch Van Gogh refers to is his first version: Augustine Roulin (La berceuse) (F 508 / JH 1671). The two repetitions are F 505 / JH 1669 and F 506 / JH 1670. The Roulins28 had chosen F 505 / JH 1669; the repetition of it (the fourth version) is F 507 / JH 1672. 29 Christian Vilhelm Mourier-Petersen (1858-1945) Danish artist 30 Theo must have enclosed Mourier-Petersen31s letter to Vincent (letter 742). Mourier-Petersen had assumed that Vincent was no longer in Arles. 32 Paul (Eugne Henri) Gauguin (1848-1903) French artist 33 Mette Sophie Gauguin-Gad (1850-1920) wife of Paul Gauguin 34 Mette Gauguin-Gad35 lived in Copenhagen. Gauguin36 did in fact receive a version of the Berceuse; see letter 776, n. 3. It emerges from this passage that Van Gogh wanted him to have a triptych (consisting of the Berceuse flanked by the repetitions of the sunflowers); see also letter 736, n. 12.

37 Van Gogh is probably referring here to his remark in letter 744, that his Berceuse was not correctly rendered and in that respect did not resemble the work of Cabanel38 or Bouguereau39 in the slightest. 40 Arnold Hendrik Koning (1860-1945) Dutch artist 41 Koning42 had written in letter 746 about his plan to travel with a friend to France. To Theo van Gogh. Arles, on or about Monday, 25 February 1889. 5

But if one has too many annoyances, what can one say and do then? Anyway, you can see that I dont quite know what to think yet. Bernard43 has written to me as well. I havent been able to reply yet, for its so difficult to explain the nature of the difficulties one might encounter here, and with our northern or Parisian customs and ways of thinking its inevitable that if one stays here for a long time one must suffer something that isnt amusing in these parts. [1v:3] Must however admit that in all the towns there are schools of drawing and masses of art lovers, but you understand that run by invalids or idiots of the fine arts its nothing but appearance and show. Mr Salles44 remitted me the 50 francs immediately.45 It gives me great pleasure that Gauguin47 has finished some lithographs.48 I believe also what you say, that if one day it was to take a graver turn one would have to follow what the doctors said, and I dont oppose that. But that day may not be tomorrow or the day after tomorrow. Now it isnt rare in these parts, it appears, to see even an entire population seized by panic thus at Nice during the earth tremor.50 Currently all the town is anxious, nobody knows precisely why, and I saw in the newspapers that recently in places not very distant from here there had been more light shakes of earth tremor again.51 All the more reason, then, for me to be of the opinion that, as far as I myself am concerned, I should wait with as much patience as I can muster, hoping that afterwards it will settle down again. [1r:4] At another moment, if I were less impressionable, I would probably poke a good deal of fun at what seems to me to be askew and deranged in the local customs. At present, from time to time it doesnt have a very happy effect on me. Right, well in fact, there are so many painters who are cracked in one way or another that little by little Ill be consoled by it. More than ever I understand the sufferings of Gauguin52, who caught the same thing in the tropics, an excessive sensitivity. At the hospital I just glimpsed a sick negress whos living there and works as a servant. Tell him that. If you were to say to Rivet53 that you have so many anxieties for me hell certainly reassure you by saying that, because theres so much affinity and community of ideas between us, you feel the same thing a little. Dont think too much about me with an ide fixe. Whats more, Ill get along better if I know that youre calm. Whatever happens, arent there a great many of us in France who try to remain calm whatever happens, adversity or prosperity? I shake your hand firmly in thought. Youre really kind to say that I could come to Paris, but I think that the bustle of a big city will never be worth anything to me. More soon. Ever yours, Vincent

43 Emile Bernard (1868-1941) French artist and writer 44 Frdric Salles (1841-1897) clergyman in Arles 45 Salles46 wrote to Theo that Vincent had received these 50 francs, when he left the hospital (au moment o il est sorti de lhospice) (FR b1047, 26 February 1889). This must have been as early as 18 February, since Vincent wrote at the time: Today Ive just returned home for the time being (letter 747, ll. 4-5). 47 Paul (Eugne Henri) Gauguin (1848-1903) French artist 48 For Gauguin49s series of lithographs Suite Volpini, see letter 737, n. 7.

50 On 23 February 1887 Nice had experienced a serious earthquake that had claimed many lives. See Andr Laurenti, Les tremblements de terre des Alpes-maritimes. Nice 1998, pp. 36-45. 51 Van Gogh must be referring to the earthquake in the Dauphin on 18 February 1889, which registered 6-7 on a scale of 12 and was therefore a moderate tremor. The Courrier des Alpes reported it on 21 February. We are indebted to Genevive Patau, Institut du Physique du Globe de Paris, Dpartement de Sismologie, for this information. A report of this earthquake in the local Arles newspapers has not been traced. 52 Paul (Eugne Henri) Gauguin (1848-1903) French artist 53 Louis Marie Hippolyte Rivet (1851-1931/32?) doctor in Paris