1. Van Gogh was officially released from the asylum on Friday, 16 May 1890; see Documentation, 8 May 1889. He left the same day for Paris, where he arrived on Saturday, 17 May (FR b2012). After staying with Theo and Jo for three days, he travelled to Auvers. He saw Bonger on 18 May; see letter 879, n. 16. Jo van Gogh-Bonger wrote the following about her first meeting with Vincent: ‘I had expected a sick person, but here was a sturdy, broad-shouldered man, with a healthy colour, a smile on his face, and a very resolute appearance ... “He seems perfectly well; he looks much stronger than Theo”, was my first thought ... He stayed with us three days and was lively and cheerful all the time.’ See Brieven 1914, pp. lx-lxi, and Hulsker 1990-1, pp. 414-415. On Saturday, 17 May 1890, she recorded in her Household book .30 centimes for flowers – on the 18th she bought beer and wine (FR b2211, Household book of Mrs Theodorus van Gogh-Bonger, April 1889 - September 1891).
2. Roses in a vase (F 682 / JH 1979 [2906]).
[2906]
3. This was letter 871 to Ginoux.
4. In letter 823 Van Gogh had written about his idea to paint a bookshop lit by gaslight. His plan never came to fruition, however.
5. Peyron wrote the following on Van Gogh’s certificate of release: ‘Ce malade calme la pluspart du temps a eu pendant son séjour dans la maison plusieurs accès qui ont présenté une durée de quinze jours à un mois, pendant ces accès le malade est en proie à des terreurs terrifiantes, et il a essayé à diverses reprises de s’empoisonner soit en avalant de la couleur dont il se servait pour la peinture, soit en absorbant de l’essence de pétrole qu’il avait soustraite au garçon au moment où il garnissait ses lampes.
Le dernier accès qu’il a eu s’est déclaré après un voyage qu’il fit à Arles et il a duré environ deux mois. Dans l’intervalle des accès le malade est parfaitement tranquille et lucide, il se livre alors avec ardeur à la peinture.
Aujourd’hui il demande sa sortie pour aller habiter le Nord de la France, espérant que ce climat lui sera plus favorable.’ See Documentation, 8 May 1889. A photograph of the original page in the register of the asylum was published in exhib. cat. New York 1986, p. 73.
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