To Theo van Gogh. , Tuesday, 18 September 1888.

Tuesday, 18 September 1888

Metadata Source status: Original manuscript

Location: Amsterdam, , inv. nos. b581 a-b V/1962 (sheets 1 and 2) and b582 V/1962 (sheet 3)

Date: Vincent thanks Theo for his allowance of 50 francs and for the 16 September issue of Le Courrier Franais that he had sent (see n. 1). From the strap-line of this newspaper published every Saturday (paraissant tous les samedis) it would appear that this issue had actually come out on Saturday, 15 September. The letter was written early in the morning, as we learn from the opening words of letter 683, which was written later the same day. Van Gogh repeats what he wrote in yesterdays letter (ll. 21 and 38). He would not have been referring here to the date of writing (Sunday evening) but the date of posting, in other words 17 September (see letter 681) for he also says that he paid the hotel keeper yesterday, and from what follows it transpires that he used the 50 francs he had just received to do it (he now has only 5 francs left). He also announced in letter 681 that he was moving into the next day; in the present one he has already spent the night there. We have therefore dated it Tuesday, 18 September 1888.

Additional: Original [1r:1] Mon cher Theo, Merci beaucoup de ta lettre et du billet de 50 francs quelle contenait. Jai egalement reu le dessin de Maurin qui est superbe. 1 Cest un grand artiste que celui l. Cette nuit jai couch dans la maison et quoiquil y a encore faire je my sens bien content. dailleurs je sens que je peux en faire quelque chse qui durera et dont un autre pourra egalement profiter. Maintenant largent depens ne sera plus de largent perdu et la

1 The print Before the accident after the drawing by Charles Maurin2 was printed as a Supplment in Le Courrier Franais of 16 September 1888. The engraver was SGap. There are three copies in the estate, one with drawing pin holes (inv. nos. t*1419-1 with drawing pin holes, t*1419-2 and t*1419-3). Ill. 2245. Cf. also letter 685.

1 2 To Theo van Gogh. Arles, Tuesday, 18 September 1888. diffrence de cela je crois que tu ne tarderas pas la voir. Actuellement cela me fait penser aux intrieurs de Bosboom avec les dalles rouges, les murs blancs, les meubles en bois blanc ou en noyer, les coins de ciel bleu intense et de verdure aperus par les fentres. Maintenant lentourage du jardin public, des cafs de nuit, de lpicier, 3 certes ce nest pas du Millet mais dfaut de cela cest du Daumier, du Zola en plein. Or cest bien suffisant pour y trouver des ides nest ce pas. Hier je tai dj crit que, comme si je mets les deux lits 300 francs, encore le prix ne peut souffrir de rduction. 6 Si toutefois jai dj achet plus que cela cest que, si jai deja mis l-dedans la moiti de largent de la semaine dernire, jai[1v:2] hier encore eu payer 10 francs au logeur et 30 francs pour un paillasson.7 Il me reste en poche ce moment 5 francs. Alors je te prierai de menvoyer comme tu pourras, ou bien mais par retour immediat encore un louis8 pour passer ma semaine ou bien cinquante francs si cest possible. De facon ou dautre je voudrais ce mois ci pouvoir compter de recevoir sur le tout du mois une fois encore 100 au lieu de 50 comme je te lai demand dans ma lettre dhier. Si jpargne sur le mois 50 francs moi-mme, si jy ajoute les autres 50 cela fait quen tout pour lameublement jaurai dpens 400 francs. Mon cher Theo, enfin nous voil davantage dans le juste. Certes cela ne fait rien de navoir ni feu ni lieu tant quon est jeune et de vivre en voyageur dans les cafs mais maintenant cela me devenait insupportable et surtout ce netait pas en accord avec un travail rflchi. Aussi mon plan est il tout fait. Je chercherai faire de la peinture pour ce que tu menvoies tous les mois et puis je veux faire de la peinture pour la maison. Celle que je ferai pour la maison ce sera pour te rembourser les dpenses antrieures. Je reste en effet un peu marchand dans ce sens que jy tiens prouver que je paye mes dettes et sais ce que je veux pour la marchandise que le mauvais mtier de peintre pauvre me force de travailler.[1v:3] Enfin je me sens peu prs sr darriver faire une dcoration qui vaudra 10 mille francs ici entretemps.

3 There were three public gardens jardins publics abutting the place Lamartine (see letter 604, n. 2). The night caf that Van Gogh painted (see letter 676) was the Caf de la Gare at 30 place Lamartine. The Caf du Prado (no. 13) and the Caf de lAlcazar (no. 17) were also in the square. See Lindicateur arlsien 1887 and 1888. Next door to Van Goghs house, in the left-hand side of the premises at no. 2 place Lamartine, was the grocers shop run by Franois Damase4 and Marguerite Crvoulin5. 6 Van Gogh means his sum of the expenses for furniture in letter 681. By yesterday he must mean the day of posting; he wrote the letter a day earlier (see Date). 7 Read: paillasse (palliasse). 8 A louis was a coin worth 20 francs. To Theo van Gogh. Arles, Tuesday, 18 September 1888. 3

Laisse moi dire Si nous fondons ici un atelier asile pour lun ou lautre copain dans la dche jamais personne ne pourra nous reprocher ni toi ni moi de vivre et de dpenser pour nous seuls. Or pour fonder un tel atelier il faut un fonds de roulement or celui l cest moi qui lai mang dans mes annes dimproduction et je le rendrai maintenant que je commence produire. Je tassure que pour toi comme pour moi je juge indispensable, mais dailleurs notre droit, davoir toujours un louis ou quelques louis dans la poche et un certain fonds de marchandises manier. Mais mon idee serait quau bout du compte on eusse fond et laisserait la postrit un atelier o pourrait vivre un successeur. Je ne sais pas si je mexprime assez clairement mais en dautres termes: nous travaillons un art, des affaires qui resteront non seulement de notre temps mais qui pourront encore aprs nous etre continu par les autres. Toi tu fais cela dans ton commerce, cest incontestable que dans la suite cela prendra alors mme quactuellement tu as beaucoup de contrarits. 9 Mais pour moi je prevois que dautres artistes voudront voir la couleur sous un soleil plus fort et dans une limpidit plus japonaise. [1r:4] Or si moi je fonde un atelier abri lentre mme du midi cela nest pas si bte. Et justement cela fait que nous pouvons travailler sereinement. Ah, si les autres disent, cest trop loin de Paris &c. Laissez faire, cest tant pis pour eux. Pourquoi le plus grand coloriste de tous, Eug. Delacroix, a t il jug indispensable daller dans le midi et jusquen Afrique.10 Evidemment puisque non seulement en Afrique mais mme partir dArles vous trouverez naturellement les belles oppositions des rouges et des verts, des bleus et des oranges, du souffre et du lilas. Et tous les vrais coloristes devront en venir l admettre quil y existe une autre coloration que celle du Nord. Et je nen doute pas si Gauguin venait, il aimerait ce pays ci, si Gauguin ne venait pas cest quil a dj cette exprience des pays plus colors et il serait toujours de nos amis et daccord en principe.

9 Evidently Theos dissatisfaction with the situation at work, which was already a subject of discussion in April 1888, was unchanged. Cf. letter 600, n. 5.

10 In 1832 Delacroix11 travelled with a French government delegation to the Sultanate of Morocco. See Johnson 1981-1989, vol. 1, p. xxi. See also letter 598, n. 11. 4 To Theo van Gogh. Arles, Tuesday, 18 September 1888.

Et il en viendrait un autre sa place. Si ce que lon fait donne sur linfini, si on voit le travail avoir sa raison dtre et continuer au dela, on travaille plus sereinement. Or cela tu las double raison.[2r:5] Tu es bon pour les peintres et saches le bien que plus jy rflechis plus je sens quil ny a rien de plus reellement artistique que daimer les gens. Tu me diras qualors on ferait bien de se passer de lart et des artistes. Cela est dabord vrai mais enfin, les grecs et les francais et les vieux hollandais ont accept lart et nous voyons lart toujours ressuciter aprs les decadences fatales et je ne crois pas quon serait plus vertueux pour cette raison quon aurait en horreur et les artistes et leur art. Maintenant je ne trouve pas encore mes tableaux bons assez pour les avantages que jai eu de toi. Mais une fois que cela sera bon assez, je tassure que tu les auras cres tout autant que moi et cest que nous les fabriquons deux. Mais je ninsiste pas l-dessus parceque cela te deviendra clair comme le jour si jarrive faire un peu plus serieusement les chses. Dans ce moment jai une autre toile de 30 carre[2v:6] en train, de nouveau un jardin ou plutt une promenade sous des platanes avec du gazon vert et des buissons noirs de sapin. 12 Tu as fort bien fait de commander la couleur et la toile13 car le temps est superbe, superbe. Le mistral y est toujours mais il y a des intervalles de calme et alors cest admirable. Si nous avions moins de mistral ce pays serait reellement aussi beau et se preterait autant lart que le Japon. En tecrivant, trs bonne lettre de Bernard qui songe de venir Arles cet hiver toquade mais enfin peuttre aussi que Gauguin me lenvoie comme remplaant et prfrera rester lui dans le nord. Nous le saurons bientt car je suis persuad quil tcrira chse ou autre. La lettre de Bernard parle avec grande estime et sympathie de Gauguin et je suis persuad que reciproquement ils se sont compris. Et certes je crois que Gauguin lui a fait du bien,

12 Path in the public garden (F 470 / JH 1582). In his previous letter (681) Van Gogh had finished another painting of the park: The public garden (The poets garden) (F 468 / JH 1578). 13 Van Gogh had enclosed a large paint order with letter 677, and in letter 680 he had asked for 5 metres of canvas from Tasset14s. To Theo van Gogh. Arles, Tuesday, 18 September 1888. 5

Bernard. [2v:7] Que Gauguin vienne ou non, il restera des amis et sil ne vient pas maintenant il viendra une autre poque. Instinctivement je sens que Gauguin est un calculateur qui se voyant en bas de lchelle sociale veut reconquerir une position par des moyens qui seront certes honntes mais qui seront tres politiques. Gauguin sait peu que je suis mme de tenir compte de tout cela. Et il ne sait pas peutetre quil lui faut absolument gagner du temps et quavec nous il le gagne, sil ny gagnerait pas autre chose. Maintenant si un jour ou un autre lui fiche le camp de Pont Aven avec Laval ou Maurin15 sans payer sa dette, selon moi dans son cas il serait encore dans le juste, autant que lest toute bte aux abois. Je ne crois pas quil soit sage doffrir immediatement Bernard 150 francs pour un tableau par mois comme on la offert Gauguin. Et Bernard qui a caus evidemment longuement avec Gauguin sur toute laffaire, ny compte-il pas un peu de remplacer Gauguin. [2r:8] Je crois quil sera ncessaire dtre trs ferme et trs categorique dans tout cela. Et sans dire ses raisons parler trs clairement. Je ne peux pas donner tort Gauguin boursier, agent18 sil veut risquer quelque chose dans le commerce, seulement moi je nen serais pas, jaime mille fois mieux continuer avec toi que tu sois avec les Goupil ou non. Et les marchands nouveaux sont comme tu le sais, en plein, dans mon opinion absolument la mme chse que les anciens. Par principe en theorie je suis pour une association dartistes se sauvegardant la vie et le travail mais je suis par principe et en theorie egalement contre les essais de dmolition des anciens commerces une fois tablis. Laissez les donc pourrir en paix et mourir de leur belle mort. Cest de la pure prsomption que de vouloir regenerer le commerce. Nen faites pas du tout, sauvegardez vous la vie entre vous, vivez en famille, en freres et compagnon, parfait, cela mme dans un cas que cela ne reussirait pas je voudrais en tre mais jamais je ne serai dun coup mont contre dautres marchands. Je te serre bien la main, jespre que cela ne te genera pas trop absolument ce que je suis forc de te demander. Mais je nai pas voulu

15 Van Gogh means Henry Moret16, who was staying in Pont-Aven. See letter 664, n. 2. He probably confused his name with Charles Maurin17s because of the illustration he had just received (see n. 1 above). 18 From 1872 to 1880 Gauguin19 had worked as a stockbroker for various banks and financial institutions in Paris. See Wildenstein 2001, pp. 574, 578-582. 6 To Theo van Gogh. Arles, Tuesday, 18 September 1888. trainer daller coucher chez moi. Et en cas que toi-mme sois gen, avec 20 francs de plus je passerai la semaine mais cela sera durgence. t. t. Vincent.[3r:9] La lettre que Gauguin tenverra sous peu, je suis port le croire, mettra la question au clair. Moi je ne donne pas tort un artiste de son mrite quil dise, vous me payerez mon voyage et ma dette si vous voulez que je vienne car moi je nen ai pas, dargent. Mais dautrepart il devrait dans ce cas-l tre trs gnreux avec ses tableaux. Alors mais encore faudrait-il avoir largent je ne verrais pas de mal laffaire. Mais ces tableaux qui un jour se vendront devront pendant peut tre des annees encore immobiliser les interets de ce quils coutent. Et en definitive un tableau quon paye 400 francs aujourdhui et quon vend 1000 francs dix ans aprs est encore vendu au prix coutant parcequil a rest sans rien faire. Enfin tu sais cela mieux que moi. Je ne serais pas surpris si peu peu tu reprennes de lamour pour le commerce ou au moins que tu te reconcilies avec ta position actuelle lorsque tu sentiras que les inventeurs de neuf dans le commerce ne savent pas faire une grande revolution l-dedans. Tu es bon pour les artistes, tu es en somme en plein centre du commerce, tu fais comme tu peux, tu as bougrement raison. Seulement soigne ta sant si tu peux et ne te fais du mauvais sang pour rien. Cela viendra prsent bien tout seul si cela doit venir. Je veux seulement insister sur ceci quil me semble que Gauguin, en te donnant en dpot toi seulement ses tableaux et en attendant son heure tranquillement en travaillant ici avec moi et en nous payant les avances par son travail, ferait une politique que je respecterais davantage que nimporte quel autre parti quil pourra prendre.[3v:10] Pour Bernard si Bernard voudrait venir ici ce ne serait pas aux mmes conditions que Gauguin il me semblerait. Si en vivant ensemble il y aurait avantage rien ne tempche de trouver bien que si cest possible de temps autre tu lui acheterais quelque chse. Mais avec lui pas de contrat quelconque, il est trop variable. Si Gauguin ne vient pas il russira tout de mme mais il ne russira pas par sa combinaison mais par le mrite vrai de ses toiles. Pourvu quil garde le temps et largent et la libert ncessaire pour les faire, voil. Je tassure que je ne serais certainement pas un meilleur marchand que toi, dans To Theo van Gogh. Arles, Tuesday, 18 September 1888. 7 les circonstances donns tu fais parfaitement bien et seulement je voudrais tenvoyer de meilleurs tableaux. Cela je le cherche et je continuerai le chercher. Bientt jattends lheure de reprendre ma toile du jardin. Cest un immense avantage que jai de ne pas manquer de toiles et de couleurs et aussi cest bien mon devoir de travailler sans relche. Si Gauguin venait je suis port croire que nous ferions nous-mme notre couleur chez nous, moi seul je nose pas car je crains que cela me dcouragerait si cela ne reussissait pas immediatement. Je suis tres curieux de savoir ce que Tanguy fera payer ses tubes.20 As tu lu dans le N du Courrier francais que tu as envoy, un article la truie bleue.22 Trs bien et cela fait justement penser la Segatori. Tu le liras avec plaisir cet article-l. je verrai Milliet je pense aujourdhui. Merci davance des Japonaiseries.25 Je garde tous les lettres de Bernard, ils sont quelquefois vraiment interessants, tu les liras un jour ou un autre, cela fait dj tout un paquet. Cette fermet dont je parle quil sera necessaire davoir avec Gauguin, cela est uniquement parceque on sest deja prononc lorsquil a dit son plan dopration Paris.27 Tu as bien rpondu alors sans te compro- mettre mais aussi sans le blesser dans son amour propre. Et cest la meme chse qui pourrait redevenir ncessaire.

Translation [1r:1] My dear Theo, Many thanks for your letter and for the 50-franc note it contained. Ive also received Maurin29s drawing, which is superb.30 That mans a great artist. Last night I slept in the house, and although there are still things to be done, I feel very happy there. Besides, I feel that I can make something of it that will last, and from which someone else will also be able to benefit. Now money spent will no longer be money wasted, and I believe it wont be long before you see the difference there. At present it makes me think of Bosboom32s interiors, with the red tiles, the white walls, the furniture in deal or walnut, the patches of intense blue sky and greenery visible through the windows. Now

20 Vincent had asked Theo to find out from Tanguy21 whether it would be possible to supply more coarsely ground paint; see letter 677. 22 Charles Morice23s La truie bleue (The blue sow) appeared in Le Courrier Franais 5 (16 September 1888), no. 38, pp. 5, 8. The story is about a Parisian who encounters a sow in womens clothing in the street. He is astonished by this, but closer examination of this extraordinary phenomenon serves only to reveal that the animal has the same characteristics as an elegant woman. He flirts with her a little, before waking out of what turns out to be a daydream. He recalls one detail that underlines his preference for the sow over the woman: a sow cannot talk. The fact that Van Gogh mentions Agostina Segatori24 in this connection is telling; he evidently didnt have fond memories of their affair (see letter 571, n. 2). 25 Milliet26 had been on leave in Northern France and had visited Theo on his way there; see letter 652, n. 9. See letter 685 for the Japanese prints he brought back with him. Vincent had asked for them in letter 677. 27 For Gauguin28s plan see letter 623. 29 (Jean Baptiste Joseph Antonin) Charles Maurin (1856-1914) French artist 30 The print Before the accident after the drawing by Charles Maurin31 was printed as a Supplment in Le Courrier Franais of 16 September 1888. The engraver was SGap. There are three copies in the estate, one with drawing pin holes (inv. nos. t*1419-1 with drawing pin holes, t*1419-2 and t*1419-3). Ill. 2245. Cf. also letter 685. 32 Johannes Bosboom (1817-1891) Dutch artist 8 To Theo van Gogh. Arles, Tuesday, 18 September 1888.

the surroundings, with the public garden, the night cafs, the grocers shop,33 arent Millet36, of course, but failing that, its pure Daumier37, pure Zola38. Now thats quite enough to find ideas in, isnt it? I already wrote to you yesterday that, if I count the two beds at 300 francs, the price cant be reduced any further.39 If, however, Ive already bought more than that, its because, if I already [1v:2] put half of last weeks money into it, yesterday I had to pay another 10 francs to the lodging-house keeper and 30 francs for a palliasse. At the moment I have 5 francs left in my pocket. So Im going to ask you to send me another louis,40 depending on what you can manage but by return of post to see me through the week, or 50 francs, if its possible. One way or another, this month Id like to be able to count on receiving 100 instead of 50, again, over the whole month, as I asked you in my letter yesterday. If I save 50 francs over the month myself, if I add to that the other 50, it means that in total Ill have spent 400 francs on furniture. My dear Theo, here we are, at last, more on the right road! Its true that it doesnt matter not having hearth nor home as long as youre young, and living like a traveller, in cafs, but that was becoming intolerable to me now, and most of all, it wasnt compatible with thoughtful work. So my plan is all worked out. Ill try to do painting for what you send me every month, and then I want to do painting for the house. What I do for the house will be to reimburse you for previous expenditure. Im still something of a tradesman, in fact, in the sense that Im anxious to prove that I pay my debts, and know what I want for the merchandise [1v:3] that the lousy trade of a poor painter forces me to labour at. Ah well, I feel more or less sure of succeeding in making a decoration that will be worth 10 thousand francs in time. Let me say If here we set up a studio-refuge for one or other of our pals who are broke, no one will ever be able to reproach us, neither you nor me, with living and spending for ourselves alone. Now to set up such a studio you need a working capital; now its I who have eaten it up in the course of my unproductive years, and Ill pay it back now that Im beginning to produce. I assure you that, for you as well as for me, I judge it to be indispensable, but whats more our right, always to have a louis or a few louis in our pocket, and a certain stock of merchandise to handle. But my idea would be that in the end wed have set up and would leave to posterity a studio in which a successor could live. I dont know if Im expressing myself clearly enough, but in other words: were working at an art, at matters that wont be of our times only but which may also be continued by others after us. Youre doing that in your business; its undeniable that it will increase in future, even though you have many vexations at present.41 But for me, I foresee that other artists will wish to see colour under a stronger sun and in a [1r:4] more Japanese clarity. Now if I set up a studio-refuge right at the entrance to the south, thats not so silly. And precisely that means that we can work calmly. Ah, if others say, its too far from Paris &c.? Let them, too bad for them. Why did the greatest colourist of all, Eugne Delacroix42, judge

33 There were three public gardens jardins publics abutting the place Lamartine (see letter 604, n. 2). The night caf that Van Gogh painted (see letter 676) was the Caf de la Gare at 30 place Lamartine. The Caf du Prado (no. 13) and the Caf de lAlcazar (no. 17) were also in the square. See Lindicateur arlsien 1887 and 1888. Next door to Van Goghs house, in the left-hand side of the premises at no. 2 place Lamartine, was the grocers shop run by Franois Damase34 and Marguerite Crvoulin35. 36 Jean-Franois Millet (1814-1875) French artist 37 Honor Daumier (1808-1879) French artist 38 Emile Zola (1840-1902) French writer 39 Van Gogh means his sum of the expenses for furniture in letter 681. By yesterday he must mean the day of posting; he wrote the letter a day earlier (see Date). 40 A louis was a coin worth 20 francs. 41 Evidently Theos dissatisfaction with the situation at work, which was already a subject of discussion in April 1888, was unchanged. Cf. letter 600, n. 5.

42 Ferdinand Victor Eugne Delacroix (1798-1863) French artist To Theo van Gogh. Arles, Tuesday, 18 September 1888. 9 it indispensable to go to the south, and as far as Africa?43 Obviously because not only in Africa but even from Arles onwards youll naturally find fine contrasts between reds and greens, blues and oranges, sulphur and lilac. And all true colourists will have to come to admit that there exists another coloration than that of the north. And I dont doubt that if Gauguin45 came, he would love this part of the country; if Gauguin didnt come, its because he has already had this experience of more colourful countries, and hed still be one of our friends and in agreement in principle. And another one of them would come in his place. If what were doing looks out toward the infinite, if we see our work having its raison dtre and continuing on beyond, we work with more serenity. Now you have that twice over. [2r:5] Youre kind to painters, and be sure that the more I think about it the more I feel that theres nothing more genuinely artistic than to love people. Youll say to me that then wed do well to do without art and artists. Thats true on the face of it, but after all, the Greeks and the French and the old Dutchmen accepted art, and we see art always recover after inevitable periods of decline and I dont believe that wed be more virtuous for this reason, that we had a horror of artists and their art. At present I dont yet find my paintings good enough for the benefits Ive had from you. But once theyre good enough, I assure you that you will have created them just as much as I, and the fact is that we make them together. But I wont labour the point, because it will become as clear as daylight to you if I succeed in doing things a little more seriously. At the moment I have another no. 30 square canvas on the go, a garden again, or rather a walk [2v:6] under plane trees, with green turf and black clumps of pines.46 You did very well to order the colours and the canvas,47 because the weather is superb, superb. The mistral is still there, but there are intervals of calm, and then its wonderful. If we had less mistral, this part of the country would really be as beautiful, and would lend itself as much to art, as Japan. As I write, very kind letter from Bernard49, whos thinking of coming to Arles this winter whim but then, perhaps its also that Gauguin50 is sending him to me as a substitute, and would himself prefer to stay in the north. Well know soon, because Im sure that hell write to you one way or another. Bernard51s letter speaks of Gauguin52 with great respect and sympathy, and Im convinced that they have mutually understood one another. And I certainly believe that Gauguin has done Bernard good. [2v:7] Whether Gauguin53 comes or not, hell still be one of our friends, and if he doesnt come now hell come at another time. I instinctively feel that Gauguin is a calculating person, who, seeing himself at the bottom of the social ladder, wishes to regain a position by means that will be honest, to be sure, but which will be very shrewd. Gauguin has little idea that Im able to take account of all that. And he perhaps doesnt know that he must at all costs gain time, and that hell gain it with us, if he were to gain nothing else thereby.

43 In 1832 Delacroix44 travelled with a French government delegation to the Sultanate of Morocco. See Johnson 1981-1989, vol. 1, p. xxi. See also letter 598, n. 11.

45 Paul (Eugne Henri) Gauguin (1848-1903) French artist 46 Path in the public garden (F 470 / JH 1582). In his previous letter (681) Van Gogh had finished another painting of the park: The public garden (The poets garden) (F 468 / JH 1578). 47 Van Gogh had enclosed a large paint order with letter 677, and in letter 680 he had asked for 5 metres of canvas from Tasset48s. 49 Emile Bernard (1868-1941) French artist and writer 50 Paul (Eugne Henri) Gauguin (1848-1903) French artist 51 Emile Bernard (1868-1941) French artist and writer 52 Paul (Eugne Henri) Gauguin (1848-1903) French artist 53 Paul (Eugne Henri) Gauguin (1848-1903) French artist 10 To Theo van Gogh. Arles, Tuesday, 18 September 1888.

Now if one of these days he does a bunk from Pont-Aven with Laval54 or Maurin55 56 without paying his debt, in my opinion he would still be in the right in his case, just like any animal at bay. I dont believe that its wise to offer Bernard59 150 francs for one painting a month immediately, as weve offered Gauguin60. And isnt Bernard, who has clearly talked at length with Gauguin [2r:8] about the whole business, rather counting on replacing Gauguin? I believe that itll be necessary to be very firm and very categorical in all of this. And without giving our reasons, to speak very clearly. I cant blame Gauguin61 speculator, stockbroker62 if he wishes to risk something in business, only I myself wouldnt be part of it, Id a thousand times sooner continue with you, whether youre with the Goupils or not. And the new dealers are, as you know full well, exactly the same as the old ones in my opinion. In principle, in theory, Im for an association of artists protecting their livelihood and their work, but in principle and in theory Im equally against attempts to destroy old firms, once established. Just let them rot in peace and die a natural death. Its pure presumption to try to revive the trade. Have nothing to do with it, protect your livelihoods among yourselves, live as a family, as brothers and companions; splendid; even in a case where that didnt succeed, Id like to be part of it, but Ill never be part of a manoeuvre against other dealers. I shake your hand firmly; I hope that what Im forced to ask of you wont cause you too much financial trouble. But I didnt want to delay going to sleep at my house. And if youre in financial difficulties yourself, Ill get through the week with 20 francs more, but that will be urgent. Ever yours, Vincent[3r:9] The letter that Gauguin64 will send you shortly will, Im inclined to believe, clear the matter up. I myself dont blame an artist of his merit for saying, youll pay my journey and my debt if you wish me to come, because I dont have any any money. But on the other hand, in that case hed have to be very generous with his paintings. Then but wed still have to have the money I wouldnt see any harm in the thing. But these paintings, which will be sold one day, will tie up the interest on what they cost, perhaps for many years to come. And in fact, a painting for which we pay 400 francs today and which we sell for 1,000 francs ten years later is still sold at cost price, because it has sat there doing nothing. But you know this better than I do. I shouldnt be surprised if little by little you regain a love of business, or at least that youll be reconciled with your present position when youll feel that those who invent new things in business dont know how to make a great revolution in it. Youre kind to artists, you are, in fact, right at the heart of the trade, you do what you can, youre damned right. Only take care of your health if you can, and dont get upset about nothing. That will come quite of its own accord now, if it must come. I only want to emphasize this, that it seems to me that Gauguin65, by giving you alone his paintings on deposit, and quietly waiting for his moment while working here with me and repaying our advances with his work, would be pursuing a policy that I would respect more than any other position he could take.[3v:10]

54 Charles Laval (1861-1894) French artist 55 (Jean Baptiste Joseph Antonin) Charles Maurin (1856-1914) French artist 56 Van Gogh means Henry Moret57, who was staying in Pont-Aven. See letter 664, n. 2. He probably confused his name with Charles Maurin58s because of the illustration he had just received (see n. 1 above). 59 Emile Bernard (1868-1941) French artist and writer 60 Paul (Eugne Henri) Gauguin (1848-1903) French artist 61 Paul (Eugne Henri) Gauguin (1848-1903) French artist 62 From 1872 to 1880 Gauguin63 had worked as a stockbroker for various banks and financial institutions in Paris. See Wildenstein 2001, pp. 574, 578-582. 64 Paul (Eugne Henri) Gauguin (1848-1903) French artist 65 Paul (Eugne Henri) Gauguin (1848-1903) French artist To Theo van Gogh. Arles, Tuesday, 18 September 1888. 11

For Bernard66, if Bernard wished to come here, it wouldnt be on the same conditions as Gau- guin67 it would seem to me. If there was a benefit in living together, theres nothing to prevent you agreeing to buy something from him from time to time, if its possible. But no sort of contract with him, hes too changeable. If Gauguin68 doesnt come, hell succeed all the same, but he wont succeed through his con- trivance, but through the real merit of his canvases. As long as he keeps the time and the money and the freedom needed to do them, thats all. I can assure you that I would certainly not be a better dealer than you; in the given circumstances you do perfectly well, and Id only wish to send you better paintings. Im trying to do that, and Ill continue to try to do so. I expect to return to my garden canvas again soon. Its an immense advantage that I have, not to be short of canvases and colours, and so its certainly my duty to work without respite. If Gauguin came, Im inclined to believe that wed make our colours at home ourselves; I darent do it on my own, because I fear that it would discourage me if it didnt work straightaway. Im very curious to know what Tanguy69 will charge for his tubes.70 Did you read an article in the number of Le Courrier Franais that you sent, la truie bleue?72 Very good, and it reminds you precisely of La Segatori75. Youll enjoy reading that article. Ill see Milliet76 today, I think. Thank you in advance for the Japanese prints.77 Im keeping all Bernard79s letters, theyre sometimes really interesting; youll read them some day or other; they already make quite a bundle. This firmness I was speaking of, that it will be necessary to have with Gauguin80, its solely because we already made our position clear when he described his plan of action in Paris.81 You replied well then without committing yourself, but also without wounding him in his amour propre. And its the same thing that could be necessary again.

66 Emile Bernard (1868-1941) French artist and writer 67 Paul (Eugne Henri) Gauguin (1848-1903) French artist 68 Paul (Eugne Henri) Gauguin (1848-1903) French artist 69 Julien Franois Tanguy (pre Tanguy) (1825-1894) seller of artists’ materials in Paris 70 Vincent had asked Theo to find out from Tanguy71 whether it would be possible to supply more coarsely ground paint; see letter 677. 72 Charles Morice73s La truie bleue (The blue sow) appeared in Le Courrier Franais 5 (16 September 1888), no. 38, pp. 5, 8. The story is about a Parisian who encounters a sow in womens clothing in the street. He is astonished by this, but closer examination of this extraordinary phenomenon serves only to reveal that the animal has the same characteristics as an elegant woman. He flirts with her a little, before waking out of what turns out to be a daydream. He recalls one detail that underlines his preference for the sow over the woman: a sow cannot talk. The fact that Van Gogh mentions Agostina Segatori74 in this connection is telling; he evidently didnt have fond memories of their affair (see letter 571, n. 2). 75 Agostina Segatori (1841-1910) manageress of restaurant Le Tambourin in Paris 76 Paul Eugne Milliet (1863-1943) French lieutenant of the Zouaves 77 Milliet78 had been on leave in Northern France and had visited Theo on his way there; see letter 652, n. 9. See letter 685 for the Japanese prints he brought back with him. Vincent had asked for them in letter 677. 79 Emile Bernard (1868-1941) French artist and writer 80 Paul (Eugne Henri) Gauguin (1848-1903) French artist 81 For Gauguin82s plan see letter 623.