To Theo Van Gogh. Auvers-Sur-Oise, Wednesday, 23 July 1890
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To Theo van Gogh. Auvers-sur-Oise, Wednesday, 23 July 1890. Wednesday, 23 July 1890 Metadata Source status: Original manuscript Location: Amsterdam, Van Gogh Museum, inv. nos. b699 a-c V/1962 Date: Considering that Vincent thanks Theo for his letter of today (l. 1*), which was letter 901 of 22 July, and because Jo van Gogh-Bonger dated the present letter in Brieven 1914 to 23 July 1890 she might have had a postmark to rely on we have also maintained the dating to Wednesday, 23 July 1890. Theo referred to the present letter in a letter he wrote to Jo on 25 July (see Brief happiness 1999, p. 261). Additional: An earlier, unfinished version of this letter was RM25. Van Gogh enclosed two orders for paint, one for himself and another for Hirschig. Original [1r:1] Mon cher frre, Merci de ta lettre daujourdhui et du billet de 50 fr. quelle contenait. 1 Je voudrais peuttre tcrire sur bien des chses mais dabord lenvie men a tellement passe, puis jen sens linutilit. 2 Jespre que tu auras retrouv ces messieurs5 dans de bonnes dispositions ton gard. 1 This was letter 901. 2 On 25 July 1890, Theo wrote to Jo3 about this letter: There was a letter from Vincent which again I find incomprehensible. Weve not fallen out, either with him or with each other. He wasnt even aware that Dries4 had refused to enter into a joint venture. His letter included a couple of sketches of paintings hes working on, which look very nice. If only he could find someone to buy a couple from him, but Im afraid this could still take a very long time. But one cannot drop him when hes working so hard and so well. When will a happy time come for him? Hes so thoroughly good and helped me so much to keep going. Jo answered on 26 July: What might be the matter with Vincent? Did we go too far the day he came? My dearest, I have firmly resolved never to squabble with you again and always do what you wish (FR b2063 and b4241; Brief happiness 1999, pp. 261-264). 5 Theos employers at Boussod, Valadon & Cie. 1 2 To Theo van Gogh. Auvers-sur-Oise, Wednesday, 23 July 1890. Pour ce qui est de ltat de paix dans ton mnage, je suis autant convaincu de la possibilit de la conserver que des orages qui la menacent. Je prfre ne pas oublier le peu de francais que je sais et certes ne saurais voir lutilit dapprofondir le tort ou la raison dans des discussions ventuelles de part ou autre. 6 Seulement cela mintresserait pas. Ici les chses vont vite Dries, toi et moi nen sommes nous pas un peu plus convaincus, le sentons nous pas un peu davantage que ces dames. 9 Tant mieux pour elles mais enfin causer tte repose, nous ny comptons mme pas. En ce qui me regarde je mapplique sur mes toiles avec toute mon attention, je cherche faire aussi bien que de certains peintres que jai beaucoup aim et admir.[1v:2] Ce quil me semble en revenant cest que les peintres eux mmes sont de plus en plus aux abois. Bon . mais le moment de chercher leur faire comprendre lutilit dune union nest il pas un peu pass dj. Dautre part une union, se formerait elle, sombrerait si le reste doive sombrer. Alors tu me dirais peuttre que des marchands suniraient pour les impressionistes; ce serait bien passager. Enfin il me semble que linitiative personnelle demeure inefficace, et experience faite, la recommencerait-on? Jai constat avec plaisir que le Gauguin de Bretagne que jai vu etait trs beau12 et il me semble que les autres quil a fait l-bas doivent ltre aussi. Peut-tre verras tu ce croquis du jardin de Daubigny cest une de mes toiles les plus voulues14 jy joins un croquis de vieux chaumes16 et les croquis de 2 toiles de 30 6 During his visit to Theo and Jo7 (see letter 898), Vincent had apparently insisted on speaking French instead of Dutch, and this idea must have met with resistance from Jo and Andries8. 9 This refers to Jo10 and Annie11 (Andriess wife). 12 It cannot be ascertained which Gauguin13 from Brittany Vincent is referring to here. Theo had various works of his on consignment which Vincent could have seen during his visit to Paris. See letters 799 and 813. 14 Vincent means that Theo will one day see the painting after which the letter sketch F - / JH 2106 was made. Van Gogh painted two large canvases of Daubigny15s garden: Daubignys garden (F 776 / JH 2104) and Daubignys garden (F 777 / JH 2105). In letter 898 he mentioned the first version of the painting, F 777 / JH 2105. The letter sketch in the present letter was made after Daubignys garden (F 776 / JH 2104), as is clear from the dots used to indicate the path in the lower left corner and the diagonal lines on the roof of the church at top right. The sketch is more elongated than the painting, which accounts for some differences in the composition. The black cat was painted out later. 16 The letter sketch Thatched cottages and figures (F - / JH 2116) was made after the painting of the same name To Theo van Gogh. Auvers-sur-Oise, Wednesday, 23 July 1890. 3 reprsentant dimmenses tendues de bl aprs la pluie.17 Hirschig a demand de te prier de vouloir bien lui commander la liste de couleurs ci jointe18 chez le mme [1v:3] marchand des couleurs que tu menvoies. Tasset peut les lui envoyer directement lui contre remboursement mais alors il faudrait lui accorder les 20%. Ce qui sera le plus simple. Ou bien tu les joindrais lenvoi de couleurs pour moi en ajoutant la facture ou en me disant combien en est le montant et alors il tenverrait largent toi. Ici on ne peut pas en trouver de bonnes de couleurs. Jai simplifi ma commande moi jusqu un minimum bien raide. Hirsching commence comprendre un peu il ma sembl, il a fait le portrait du vieux maitre dcole quil lui a donn, bien et puis il a des etudes de paysage20 qui sont comme les Konink qui sont chez toi22 peu prs comme couleur. Cela deviendra peuttre tout fait comme cela ou comme les choses de Voerman que nous avons vues ensemble.24 bientot. Porte toi bien et bonne chance dans les affaires &c. bien le bonjour Jo et poignes de main en pense. b. v. Vincent. [2r:4] le jardin de Daubigny avant plan dherbe verte & rose, gauche un buisson vert & lilas et une souche de plantes feuillage blanchtre. Au milieu un parterre de roses. droite une claie, un mur et au-dessus du mur un noisetier feuillage violet. Puis une haie de lilas, une range de tilleuls arondis jaunes. la maison elle-mme dans le fond, rose toit de tuiles bleuatres. Un banc et 3 chaises, une figure noire chapeau jaune et sur lavant plan un chat noir. Ciel vert ple. [2v:5] [3r:6] (F 780 / JH 2115). [3v:7] 17 The letter sketch Wheatfields (F - / JH 2100) was made after the painting of the same name F 782 / JH 2099. Wheatfields (F - / JH 2103) was made after the painting of the same name F 781 / JH 2102. 18 The paint orders for Hirschig19 and Vincent (l. 67) have not been preserved. 20 These works by Hirschig21 are not known. 22 For the paintings by Arnold Koning23 in Theos collection, see letter 666, n. 9. 24 In mid-May, meaning the time when Vincent was in Paris, H.G. Tersteeg25 had sent Theo on consignment a watercolour by Jan Voerman Sr26. It is not known which watercolour, however. See Anna Wagner, Jan Voerman. IJsselschilder. Zwolle 1991, p. 54. 4 To Theo van Gogh. Auvers-sur-Oise, Wednesday, 23 July 1890. Translation [1r:1] My dear brother, Thanks for your letter of today and for the 50-franc note it contained.27 Id perhaps like to write to you about many things, but first the desire has passed to such a degree, then I sense the pointlessness of it.28 I hope that youll have found those gentlemen31 favourably disposed towards you. As regards the state of peace in your household, Im just as convinced of the possibility of preserving it as of the storms that threaten it. I prefer not to forget the little French I know, and certainly wouldnt see the point of delving deeper into the rights or wrongs in any discussions on one side or the other.32 Its just that this wouldnt interest me. Things go quickly here arent Dries, you and I a little more convinced of that, dont we feel it a little more than those ladies35?36 So much the better for them but anyway, talking with rested minds, we cant even count on that. As for myself, Im applying myself to my canvases with all my attention, Im trying to do as well [1v:2] as certain painters whom Ive liked and admired a great deal. What seems to me on my return is that the painters themselves are increasingly at bay. Very well. But has the moment to make them understand the utility of a union not rather passed already? On the other hand a union, if it were formed, would go under if the rest went under. Then youd perhaps tell me that dealers would unite for the Impressionists; that would be very fleeting. Anyway it seems to me that personal initiative remains ineffective, and having done the experiment, would one begin it again? I noted with pleasure that the Gauguin39 from Brittany that I saw was very beautiful,40 and it seems to me that the others hes done there must be too.