To Theo van Gogh and Jo van Gogh-Bonger. Auvers-sur-Oise, Tuesday, 20 May 1890. Tuesday, 20 May 1890 Metadata Source status: Original manuscript Location: Amsterdam, Van Gogh Museum, inv. no. b684 V/1962 Date: The letter was most likely written on the day of Van Goghs arrival in Auvers. In this letter he tells about his first visit to Gachet and reflects on his stay in Paris. Dr Gachet noted in his diary on 20 May: M. Van Gogh. See Paul Gachet, Deux amis des impressionnistes: le docteur Gachet et Murer. Paris 1956, p. 106. On 20 May 1890 Jo van Gogh-Bonger made entries in her Household book for railway and carriage (0.20 en 2.00 francs, respectively). These expenses presumably indicate that Vincent went to the station that day (Wednesday, 21 May contains no entries that could be connected with his departure on that day). See Household book of Mrs Theodorus van Gogh-Bonger, April 1889 - September 1891 (FR b2211). Jos brother, Andries Bonger, wrote on 21 May 1890 to his parents: Vincent the painter has already left (FR b1852). On the basis of this information, we have dated Van Goghs letter to Tuesday, 20 May 1890. Twenty-five years later, however, Jo said that Vincent had left on 21 May (Brieven 1914, p. lxi), though her reasons for saying this are not clear. Additional: Original [1r:1] Mon cher Theo et chre Jo Aprs avoir fait connaissance avec Jo il me sera dsormais difficile dcrire Theo seul mais Jo me permettra jespre decrire en franais parceque aprs deux ans dans le midi reellement je crois, ainsi faisant, mieux vous dire ce que jai dire. Auvers est bien beau beaucoup de vieux chaume entre autres, ce qui devient rare. 1 2 To Theo van Gogh and Jo van Gogh-Bonger. Auvers-sur-Oise, Tuesday, 20 May 1890. Jesprerais donc quen faisant quelques toiles de cela bien serieusement il y aurait une chance de rentrer dans les frais du sjour car reellement cest gravement beau, cest de la pleine campagne caracteristique et pittoresque. Jai vu M. le Dr Gachet qui a fait sur moi limpression dtre assez excentrique mais son exprience de docteur doit le tenir lui-mme en quilibre en combattant le mal nerveux duquel certes il me parait attaqu au moins aussi gravement que moi.[1v:2] Il ma pilot dans une auberge o lon demandait 6 francs par jour. De mon ct jen ai trouv une o je payerai 3.50 par jour. 1 Et jusqua nouvel ordre je crois devoir y rester. Lorsque jaurai fait quelques tudes je verrai si il y aurait avantage changer. mais cela me parait injuste lorsquon veut et peut payer et travailler comme un autre ouvrier, davoir payer quand mme le double presque parceque lon travaille de la peinture. Enfin je commence par lauberge 3.50. Probablement tu verras le Dr Gachet cette semaine il a un trs beau Pissaro, hiver avec maison rouge dans la neige.5 et deux beaux bouquets [1v:3] de Cezanne.7 Aussi un autre Cezanne du village.9 Moi mon tour je veux volontiers, trs volontiers donner ici un coup de brosse. Jai dit M. le Dr Gachet que pour 4 francs par jour je trouverais lauberge indique par lui preferable mais que 1 Gachet2 had presumably recommended the Auberge Saint-Aubin. See Coquiot 1923, p. 244. This inn was not in rue Rmy, as recorded in Ravoux 1957, p. 7 and exhib. cat. New York 1986, p. 197, but in rue de Pontoise (now rue Franois Villon). Van Gogh, however, preferred the less expensive Auberge Ravoux, on the place de la Mairie. It was managed by the wine dealer Arthur Gustave Ravoux3 and his wife Adeline Louise Touillet4. See Mothe 1987, p. 220, and Leaf and Leeman 2001, p. 79. 5 Camille Pissarro6, Chestnut trees at Louveciennes, 1869-1870 (Paris, Muse dOrsay). Ill. 313. 7 Paul Czanne8, Geraniums and coreopsis in a small Delft vase, 1873 (private collection), Ill. 684; and Bouquet in a small Delft vase (Dahlias), 1873 (Paris, Muse dOrsay). Ill. 683. 9 Paul Czanne10, Doctor Gachets house, 1872-1873 (Paris, Muse dOrsay). Ill. 685. To Theo van Gogh and Jo van Gogh-Bonger. Auvers-sur-Oise, Tuesday, 20 May 1890. 3 6 tait 2 francs trop cher pour les dpenses que je fais. Il a beau dire que jy serai plus tranquille, assez cest assez. Sa maison lui est pleine de vieilleries noires noires noires, lexeption des quelques esquisses dimpressionistes nommes. 11 Malgr que cest un drle de bonhomme limpression quil a faite sur moi nest pas defavorable. Causant de la Belgique13 et des jours des anciens peintres, sa figure raidie par le chagrin redevient souriante et je crois bien [1r:4] que je resterai amis avec lui et que je ferai son portrait. Puis il me dit quil faut beaucoup travailler hardiment et ne pas du tout songer ce que jai eu. Jai bien senti Paris que tout le bruit de l-bas nest pas ce quil me faut. Que je suis content davoir vu Jo et le petit et ton apartement qui certes est mieux que lautre. 15 Vous souhaitant bonne chance et sant et esprant vous revoir sous bien peu, bonnes poignes de main Vincent. Translation [1r:1] My dear Theo and dear Jo17 After making Jo18s acquaintance it will be difficult for me from now on to write to Theo alone, but Jo will permit me, I hope, to write in French, because after two years in the south I really think, in doing so, that I tell you better what I have to say. Auvers is really beautiful among other things many old thatched roofs, which are becoming rare. Id hope, then, that in doing a few canvases of that really seriously, there would be a chance of recouping some of the costs of my stay for really its gravely beautiful, its the heart of the countryside, distinctive and picturesque. Ive seen Dr Gachet19, who gave me the impression of being rather eccentric, but his doctors experience must keep him balanced himself while combating the nervous ailment from which it seems to me hes certainly suffering at least as seriously as I am. [1v:2] 11 Gachet12 lived in the former girls boarding school, which he had bought in 1872, in what is now rue du Dr Gachet. For his collection and photographs of the interior of his house, see exhib. cat. Paris 1999. 13 In his youth Gachet14 had lived in Mechelen in Belgium. 15 Theo and Jo16 lived at 8 cit Pigalle. Their old apartment was at 54 rue Lepic. 17 Johanna (Jo or Net) Gezina van Gogh-Bonger (1862-1925) wife of Theo van Gogh 18 Johanna (Jo or Net) Gezina van Gogh-Bonger (1862-1925) wife of Theo van Gogh 19 Paul-Ferdinand Gachet Sr (1828-1909) doctor in Auvers-sur-Oise 4 To Theo van Gogh and Jo van Gogh-Bonger. Auvers-sur-Oise, Tuesday, 20 May 1890. He directed me to an inn where they were asking 6 francs a day. For my part Ive found one where Ill pay 3.50 a day.20 And until theres a change of circumstances I think I ought to stay there. When Ive done a few studies Ill see if there would be any advantage in moving. But it seems unjust to me, when one wants to and can pay and work like any other workman, to have to pay almost double all the same because one works at painting. Anyway Im starting with the 3.50 inn. Youll probably see Dr Gachet24 this week he has a very fine Pissarro25, winter with red house [1v:3] in the snow,26 and two fine bouquets by Czanne28.29 Also another Czanne31 of the village.32 Myself, in my turn Ill gladly, very gladly give a stroke of the brush here. I told Dr Gachet34 that I would find the inn he suggested preferable at 4 francs a day, but that 6 was 2 francs too dear for the expenses Im having. Its all right for him to say that Ill be quieter there, enough is enough. His own house is full of old things, dark, dark, dark, with the exception of a few sketches by Impressionists I mentioned.35 Despite the fact that hes an odd fellow, the impression he made on me isnt unfavourable. Chatting of Belgium37 and the days of the old painters, his grief-stiffened [1r:4] face took on a smile again, and I really think that Ill stay friends with him and that Ill do his portrait. Then he tells me that I must work a great deal, boldly, and not think at all about what Ive had. I really felt in Paris that all the noise there wasnt what I need. How pleased I am to have seen Jo39 and the little one40 and your apartment, which is indeed better than the other one.41 Wishing you good luck and health, and hoping to see you again very soon, good handshakes Vincent. 20 Gachet21 had presumably recommended the Auberge Saint-Aubin. See Coquiot 1923, p. 244. This inn was not in rue Rmy, as recorded in Ravoux 1957, p. 7 and exhib. cat. New York 1986, p. 197, but in rue de Pontoise (now rue Franois Villon). Van Gogh, however, preferred the less expensive Auberge Ravoux, on the place de la Mairie. It was managed by the wine dealer Arthur Gustave Ravoux22 and his wife Adeline Louise Touillet23. See Mothe 1987, p.