1. Herman Johannes van der Weele, Een mistige morgen (A misty morning) (present whereabouts unknown). With this work, which measured 150 x 180 cm, Van der Weele was to win a silver medal at the Internationale koloniale en uitvoerhandel tentoonstelling te Amsterdam 1883 (International colonial and export trade exhibition at Amsterdam 1883) in De Brakke Grond, which was held between May and October on the occasion of the World Exhibition. See exhib. cat. Amsterdam 1883, cat. no. 260. See also F.-G. Dumas, Catalogue illustré officiel de la section des beaux-arts de l’exposition universelle d’Amsterdam. Paris etc. 1883, p. 29, cat. no. 260. P.A. Haaxman Jr characterized the work, which according to him was much discussed at the time, as ‘a few skinny, dreadfully worn-out sand cart horses’. See ‘H.J. van der Weele’, Elsevier’s Geïllustreerd Maandblad 8 (1898), vol. 16, pp. 291-305 (quotation on p. 301).

2. It is not known which work this is. During a visit to the studio in 1898 P.A. Haaxman Jr saw ‘a painted study of a white horse, with its bones sticking out, its head drooping, and that peculiar movement of its hind leg that worn-out horses have’ (see the article in the previous note, p. 301).

3. The description is too general for the work to be identified.

4. Cf. ‘Blessed is he who has found his work’, quoted earlier from Carlyle’s Past and present: see letter 288, n. 21.

5. For Alfred Cadart and his efforts to promote the art of etching, see letter 305, n. 12.

6. This is probably Girl kneeling by a cradle (F 1024 / JH 336

). Cf. also the sketch enclosed with letter 330.

7. It is not known which drawing this is. Given the remark about a sepia wash, when he refers to a drawing already sent Van Gogh must mean Woman sewing, with a girl (F 1072 / JH 341

). Over time the woody paper has become badly discoloured and the colour of the wash can no longer be determined.

8. In view of Theo’s reaction, it was Woman sewing, with a girl (F 1072 / JH 341

) which Vincent said in letter 326 he had sent.

9. This excuse relates in part to the drawing under discussion, which shows Sien and probably her daughter. This could mean that Van Gogh also paid her to model, although earlier he wrote in this connection that living together saved money.