1. Olive trees (F 715 / JH 1759 ). See exhib. cat. Dallas 2021, pp. 85, 90 (n. 2).

2. Wheatfield (F 719 / JH 1725 ).

3. Wheatfield after a storm (F 611/ JH 1723 ).

4. In letter 764 to Willemien, Vincent had compared love to a microbe.

5. The French chemist and bacteriologist Louis Pasteur demonstrated that some infectious diseases are caused by bacteria. Cf. also letter 638, n. 10.

6. Theo had last written on 21 May; see letter 774. His recent marriage, as well as his weak health, no doubt prevented him from writing. On 7 June 1889, Jo van Gogh-Bonger had written to Mrs van Gogh: ‘Theo has gone, because I so desired it, to see Dr Rivet, because he did not look good’ (FR b943).

7. This was letter 771.