To Emile Bernard. Arles, Sunday, 15 July 1888.

Sunday, 15 July 1888

Metadata

Source status: Original manuscript

Location: New York, Thaw Collection, The Morgan Library & Museum

Date: Van Gogh writes that he has drawings ready to send to Bernard (l. 56). In his letter to Theo of Sunday, 15 July, he says that he had sent them today and that he had also written to Bernard that Sunday (letter 642, ll. 139 and 177). The present letter is accordingly dated Sunday, 15 July 1888.

Additional: Original [1r:1] Mon cher copain Bernard. peut tre seras tu enclin mexcuser de navoir pas incontinent repondu ta lettre, voyant qu celle ci je joins un petit envoi de croquis. 1 Dans le croquis le jardin il y a peuttre quelque chose comme des tapis velus de

1 Vincent sent six drawings, going by what he wrote to Theo later that day (letter 642) and what Bernard2 wrote to his parents in July. He told them he had received a packet containing six truly remarkable pen drawings. Theres a head of a Zouave that amazes me. Vincents becoming very good. At the same time that hes an excellent artist, hes a thinker, because every one of his works contains an idea that flashes on the eye of the man who looks for it. And his literature keeps me excited, too, its so vivid (six dessins la plume vraiment remarquables. Il y a une tte de zouave qui ma tonn. Vincent devient trs fort. En mme temps que cest un excellent artiste, cest un penseur car chacune de ses oeuvres contient une ide qui clate loeil de celui qui la cherche. De plus sa littrature me tient en moi tant elle est vibrante). He then quoted ll. 27-48 from Vincents letter, with asides like ah! Just like him! I understand him (ah! comme cest lui, je lentends). He ended with the words: This passage of the letter is absolutely remarkable, it would make Hugo3 go wild with excitement. (Ce passage de la lettre est absolument remarquable, il ferait dlirer Hugo). See Harscot-Maire 1997, pp. 177-178. It is not entirely certain which six sketches made up the batch. We know from Bernards letter that there was a head of a Zouave: Zouave (F 1482 / JH 1487), with the dedication A mon cher copain Bernard; Vincent. Later in the present letter Van Gogh says that there was one of a garden, which must have been Newly mown lawn with a weeping tree (F 1450 / JH 1509). This is confirmed in letter 696. A few days later Van Gogh sent Bernard nine more sketches. For the identification of the drawings in both batches, see letter 643, n. 1.

1 2 To Emile Bernard. Arles, Sunday, 15 July 1888.

fleurs et de verdure tissus4 de Crevelli ou Virelli, 6 peu importe. Enfin en tout cas tes citations jai voulu rpondre avec la plume mais pas en crivant des paroles. Aujourdhui aussi jai peu la tte la discussion, je suis dans le travail jusqu par-dessus les oreilles. Ai fait de grands dessins la plume 2 une immense campagne plate vue vol doiseau den haut dune colline des vignes, des champs de bl moissonns, tout cela multipli linfini, dtalant comme la surface dune mer vers lhorizon born par les monticules de la Crau.9 Ca na pas lair japonais et cest la chse la plus japonaise reellement que jaie faite.[1v:2] un personnage microscopique de laboureur, un petit train qui passe dans les bls, voila toute la vie quil y a l-dedans. Ecoutez jai pass les premiers jours de mon arrivee cet endroit-l avec un ami peintre.10 Voila ce qui serait embtant faire, dit-il. moi je ne dis rien mais je trouvais cela tellement patant que je navais pas mme la force dengueuler cet idiot. Jy reviens, reviens, reviens encore bon, jai fait deux dessins de ca de ce paysage plat o il ny avait rien que- ...... linfini... ltrnit.. Bon survient pendant que je dessine un coco qui nest pas peintre mais soldat. 12 jy dis est ce que ca tepate que moi je trouve cela aussi beau que la mer? Or il connaissait la mer lui. Non cela ne mpate pas dit-il que tu trouves cela aussi beau que la

4 This is derived from the first two verses of the 30th rondeau, Les fourriers dEst sont venus van Charles dOrlans5: The harbingers of Summer have arrived To dress his dwelling-place, And have had his carpets spread, Of flowers and verdure wove. Spreading shaggy carpets out Of green grass oer the land, The harbingers [of Summer have arrived.] Hearts weary and dejected once Thanks be to God, are healthy now and blithe, Away with you, be gone, Winter, youll stay no more; The harbingers [of Summer have arrived!] (Les fourriers dEst sont venusPour appareiller son logis,Et ont fait tendre ses tappis,De fleurs et verdure tissus.En estendant tappis velus,De vert herbe par le pas,Les fourriers [dEst sont venus.]Cueurs dennuy piea morfondus,Dieu mercy, sont sains et jolis;Alez vous ent, prenez pas,Yver, vous ne demourrs plus;Les fourriers [dEst sont venus!]) See DOrlans 1923-1927, vol. 2, p. 307. 6 Since Bernard7 often mentions Crivelli8 in his correspondence, it is likely that Van Gogh is responding here to something Bernard had written. Bernard may also have cited the preceding quotation. Carlo Crivelli mainly painted biblical scenes, often with detailed flower still lifes in the foreground. However, this might also be a reference to Vittore Crivelli, a maker of religious paintings and very probably Carlos brother. Cf. Anna Bovero, Tutta la pittura del Crivelli. Milano 1961, and Sandra di Provvido, La pittura di Vittore Crivelli. LAquila 1972. 9 La Crau seen from Montmajour (F 1420 / JH 1501) and Landscape near Montmajour with a train (F 1424 / JH 1502). The drawings measure roughly 48.5 x 60.5 cm. 10 This was probably Mourier-Petersen11; Vincent tells Theo the same story in letter 639. 12 He is referring to the Zouave lieutenant Paul Eugne Milliet13; see letter 639, n. 10. He had spent a day with him on Montmajour shortly before. To Emile Bernard. Arles, Sunday, 15 July 1888. 3 mer mais moi je trouve cela [1v:3] mme plus beau que locean puisque cest habit. Qui etait le plus artiste des spectateurs, le premier ou le deuxieme, le peintre ou le soldat moi je prefre loeil de ce soldat. nest ce pas vrai. Maintenant cest moi de te dire, rponds moi vite cette fois ci par retour du courrier pour me rpondre si tu consens me faire des croquis de tes etudes Bretonnes. Jai un envoi qui va partir 14 et avant que cela dcampe je veux encore te faire au moins une nouvelle demi douzaine de motifs en croquis la plume. Doutant peu de ce que tu le fera pour les tiens, je me mets dailleurs au travail de mon ct sans savoir mme si tu veux faire cela. Maintenant ces croquis je les enverrai mon frre pour lengager en prendre quelque chose pour notre collection. [1r:4] Je lui ai deja ecrit ce sujet dailleurs. Mais nous avons une affaire en train qui nous laisse sans le sou absolument. Cest que Gauguin qui a t bien malade ira probablement passer lhiver prochain avec moi ici dans le midi. Et il y a le voyage qui nous embte. Une fois ici, ma foi, deux on dpense moins que seul. Raison de plus pour que je desirerais avoir des choses de toi ici. Gauguin une fois ici, nous deux nous chercherons faire quelquechose Marseille et y exposerons probablement. Or je dsirerais avoir des chses de toi aussi, toutefois sans te faire perdre des chances de vente Paris. En tous cas je ne crois pas ten faire perdre en tengageant faire un change de croquis dtudes peintes de part et autre. Et aussitot que je pourrai nous ferons encore une autre affaire mais suis assez gn maintenant. Ce dont je suis persuad cest que si nous exposons Marseille tot ou tard Gauguin comme moi tengagerons y participer. Thomas a fini par acheter letude dAnquetin le paysan.16 Je te serre bien la main, bientot et t. . t. Vincent

14 These must be the paintings that Milliet15 was to take to Paris in mid-August; see letter 660. 16 Probably Louis Anquetin17, Old peasant (Amsterdam, Van Gogh Museum). Ill. 2192. 4 To Emile Bernard. Arles, Sunday, 15 July 1888.

Translation [1r:1] My dear old Bernard18. Perhaps youll be inclined to forgive me for not having replied to your letter straightaway, seeing that Im attaching a small batch of croquis to this one.19 In the croquis, The garden, theres perhaps something like the shaggy carpets of flowers and woven greenery22 of Crivelli24 or Virelli,25 doesnt much matter. Ah, well in any case I wanted to reply to your quotations with my pen, but not by writing words. Today, too, I dont have much of a head for discussion; Im up to my ears in work. Have made large pen drawings 2 an immense flat expanse of country seen in birds-eye view from the top of a hill vineyards, harvested fields of wheat, all of it multiplied endlessly, streaming away like the surface of a sea towards the horizon bounded by the hillocks of La Crau.28 [1v:2] It does not look Japanese, and its actually the most Japanese thing that Ive done. A microscopic figure of a ploughman, a little train passing through the wheatfields; thats the only life there is in it. Listen, I passed a few days after my arrival that place with a painter friend.29 Theres something that would be boring to do, he said. I said nothing myself, but I found that so astonishing that I didnt even have the strength to give that idiot a piece of my mind. I go back there, go back, go back again well, Ive done two drawings of it of that flat landscape in which there was nothing but...... the infinite... eternity. Well while Im drawing along comes a chap who isnt a painter but a soldier.31 I say, Does it astonish you that I find that as beautiful as the sea? Now he knew the sea that one. No it doesnt [1v:3] astonish me he says that you find that as beautiful as the sea but I find it even more beautiful

18 Emile Bernard (1868-1941) French artist and writer 19 Vincent sent six drawings, going by what he wrote to Theo later that day (letter 642) and what Bernard20 wrote to his parents in July. He told them he had received a packet containing six truly remarkable pen drawings. Theres a head of a Zouave that amazes me. Vincents becoming very good. At the same time that hes an excellent artist, hes a thinker, because every one of his works contains an idea that flashes on the eye of the man who looks for it. And his literature keeps me excited, too, its so vivid (six dessins la plume vraiment remarquables. Il y a une tte de zouave qui ma tonn. Vincent devient trs fort. En mme temps que cest un excellent artiste, cest un penseur car chacune de ses oeuvres contient une ide qui clate loeil de celui qui la cherche. De plus sa littrature me tient en moi tant elle est vibrante). He then quoted ll. 27-48 from Vincents letter, with asides like ah! Just like him! I understand him (ah! comme cest lui, je lentends). He ended with the words: This passage of the letter is absolutely remarkable, it would make Hugo21 go wild with excitement. (Ce passage de la lettre est absolument remarquable, il ferait dlirer Hugo). See Harscot-Maire 1997, pp. 177-178. It is not entirely certain which six sketches made up the batch. We know from Bernards letter that there was a head of a Zouave: Zouave (F 1482 / JH 1487), with the dedication A mon cher copain Bernard; Vincent. Later in the present letter Van Gogh says that there was one of a garden, which must have been Newly mown lawn with a weeping tree (F 1450 / JH 1509). This is confirmed in letter 696. A few days later Van Gogh sent Bernard nine more sketches. For the identification of the drawings in both batches, see letter 643, n. 1. 22 This is derived from the first two verses of the 30th rondeau, Les fourriers dEst sont venus van Charles dOrlans23: The harbingers of Summer have arrived To dress his dwelling-place, And have had his carpets spread, Of flowers and verdure wove. Spreading shaggy carpets out Of green grass oer the land, The harbingers [of Summer have arrived.] Hearts weary and dejected once Thanks be to God, are healthy now and blithe, Away with you, be gone, Winter, youll stay no more; The harbingers [of Summer have arrived!] (Les fourriers dEst sont venusPour appareiller son logis,Et ont fait tendre ses tappis,De fleurs et verdure tissus.En estendant tappis velus,De vert herbe par le pas,Les fourriers [dEst sont venus.]Cueurs dennuy piea morfondus,Dieu mercy, sont sains et jolis;Alez vous ent, prenez pas,Yver, vous ne demourrs plus;Les fourriers [dEst sont venus!]) See DOrlans 1923-1927, vol. 2, p. 307. 24 Carlo Crivelli (1430/35-1495) Italian artist 25 Since Bernard26 often mentions Crivelli27 in his correspondence, it is likely that Van Gogh is responding here to something Bernard had written. Bernard may also have cited the preceding quotation. Carlo Crivelli mainly painted biblical scenes, often with detailed flower still lifes in the foreground. However, this might also be a reference to Vittore Crivelli, a maker of religious paintings and very probably Carlos brother. Cf. Anna Bovero, Tutta la pittura del Crivelli. Milano 1961, and Sandra di Provvido, La pittura di Vittore Crivelli. LAquila 1972. 28 La Crau seen from Montmajour (F 1420 / JH 1501) and Landscape near Montmajour with a train (F 1424 / JH 1502). The drawings measure roughly 48.5 x 60.5 cm. 29 This was probably Mourier-Petersen30; Vincent tells Theo the same story in letter 639. 31 He is referring to the Zouave lieutenant Paul Eugne Milliet32; see letter 639, n. 10. He had spent a day with him on Montmajour shortly before. To Emile Bernard. Arles, Sunday, 15 July 1888. 5 than the ocean because its inhabited. Which of the spectators was more the artist, the first or the second, the painter or the soldier I myself prefer that soldiers eye. Isnt that true? Now its my turn to say to you, reply to me quickly this time by return of post to let me know if you agree to make me some croquis of your Breton studies. I have a consignment thats about to go off,33 and before it clears off I want to do at least another half a dozen subjects in pen croquis for you. Having few doubts that you will do it for yours, Im getting down to work on my side, anyway, without even knowing if you want to do that. Now, Ill send these croquis to my brother, to urge him to take something from them for our collection. [1r:4] Ive already written to him about that, anyway. But were working on something that leaves us absolutely without a sou. The fact is that Gauguin35 who has been very ill is probably going to spend the coming winter with me here in the south. And theres the fare, which is worrying us. Once here, well, two together spend less than one alone. All the more reason why Id like to have some things by you here. Once Gauguins here, well try to do something together in Marseille, and will probably exhibit there. Now Id like to have some things by you too, although without making you lose opportunities for selling in Paris. In any case, I dont believe Im making you lose them by encouraging you to exchange croquis of painted studies between us. And as soon as I can, well do another piece of business as well, but am quite hard up now. What Im convinced of is that if we exhibit in Marseille, sooner or later Gauguin36 and I will encourage you to join us. Thomas37 bought Anquetin38s study in the end the peasant.39 I shake your hand firmly, more soon, and Ever yours, Vincent

33 These must be the paintings that Milliet34 was to take to Paris in mid-August; see letter 660. 35 Paul (Eugne Henri) Gauguin (1848-1903) French artist 36 Paul (Eugne Henri) Gauguin (1848-1903) French artist 37 Georges Thomas (pre Thomas) (?-after 1908) art dealer in Paris 38 Louis Emile Anquetin (1861-1932) French artist 39 Probably Louis Anquetin40, Old peasant (Amsterdam, Van Gogh Museum). Ill. 2192.