1. Van Gogh was home again for the first time in two weeks, in the company of Roulin, who informed Theo that he and Vincent had spent four hours in the Yellow House. Roulin went on to write: ‘he is as meek as a lamb’ (il est doux comme un agneau) (FR b1068). The charwoman was Thérèse Balmoissière.

2. In March-April 1888 Van Gogh had made a series of paintings of orchards in blossom; see letter 600, n. 7.

3. In the second half of 1887, Theo and Andries Bonger had drifted apart, since the latter wanted nothing to do with the bohemian artists with whom Theo associated since Vincent’s arrival in Paris. See Brief happiness 1999, pp. 20-21. Andries’s wife, Annie, may also have played a role in their estrangement.

4. Gauguin had bought ‘a chest of drawers’ and ‘various household utensils’ for the Yellow House; see letter 717.

5. Theo must have informed their mother straightaway of Vincent’s condition, because she already answered his letter on 29 December from Leiden (FR b2425). This remarkable letter from Mrs van Gogh was published in its entirety, along with an English translation, in Jansen et al. 2003-2. Vincent also wrote to his mother; see letter 733.