069 To Theo van Gogh. Paris, Monday, 7 February 1876.

metadata

No. 069 (Brieven 1990 068, Complete Letters 54)
From: Vincent van Gogh
To: Theo van Gogh
Date: Paris, Monday, 7 February 1876

Source status

Original manuscript

Location

Amsterdam, Van Gogh Museum, inv. no. b67 V/1962

Date

Letter headed: ‘[Paris, le] 7 Februarij [187]6.’

Ongoing topic

Mr van Gogh’s birthday on 8 February (66)

original text

1r:1

Goupil & C^ie

Editeurs Imprimeurs

Estampes Françaises & étrangères

Tableaux Modernes

Rue Chaptal, 9, PARIS.

Succursales à la Haye, Londres, Berlin, New-York.

Paris, le 7 Februarij [187]6.

Waarde Theo,

Van harte wensch ik U geluk met Pa’s verjaardag. Het is een mooie tekst, die op 8 Februarij:1 Hij die U roept is getrouw, die het ook doen zal.2

Wat dat het zijn zal voor onzen Vader en voor ons dat weten wij niet, maar wij kunnen dat, in zekeren zin, overlaten aan Hem wiens naam is “Onze Vader”3 en “Ik zal zijn die Ik zijn zal”.─4

Vandaag kreeg ik een brief in antwoord op een van de mijnen, men vroeg of ik Fransch, Duitsch, en teekenen kon onderwijzen en ook om een portret. Ik antwoord vandaag;5 hoor ik iets naders dan schrijf ik het U spoedig.─

Dank voor het boekje van Andersen, ik ben daar blij mede;6 het is om voor te lezen aan een Hollander, een der employés, met wien ik nog 1r:2 al omging in den laatsten tijd.7

Gisteren ging ik naar eene Engelsche kerk hier, het was mij eene aangename gewaarwording die Engelsche dienst, die veel eenvoudigs en moois heeft, weer eens bij te wonen.

De preek was over “The Lord is my shepherd, I shall not want.─ He maketh me to lay down in green pastures, He leadeth me gently by still waters. He restoreth my soul and leadeth me in the paths of righteousness. Though I walk through the valley of the shadow of death I shall fear no evil for Thou art with me, Thy rod and Thy staff they comfort me. Surely Goodness and Mercy shall surround me all the days of my life, and I shall dwell in the House of the Lord for ever.─”8

Nogmaals bedankt voor het boekje van Andersen en in gedachte een handdruk, en groeten bij Roos. Van huis hoorde ik de Hr. Tersteeg te Etten is geweest.9 In haast. Steeds,

Uw liefh. broeder.

Vincent

translation

1r:1

[Letterhead: Goupil Paris]

Paris, 7 February 1876

My dear Theo,

My hearty congratulations to you on the occasion of Pa’s birthday. It’s a beautiful text, the one for 8 February:1 Faithful is He that calleth you, who also will do it.2

What that it will be for our Father and for us we do not know, but in a sense we can leave that to Him whose name is ‘Our Father’3 and ‘I am that I am’.4

Today I received a letter in reply to one of mine; they asked whether I could teach French, German and drawing, and also requested a portrait. I’ll answer today;5 if I hear more I’ll write to you directly.

Thanks for the little book by Andersen, I’m glad to have it.6 It’s for reading aloud to a Dutchman, one of the employees I’ve been seeing 1r:2 a lot of lately.7

Yesterday I went to an English church here, it was a nice experience to attend such an English service again, which has much that is simple and beautiful.

The sermon was on ‘The Lord is my shepherd, I shall not want. He maketh me to lay down in green pastures, He leadeth me gently by still waters. He restoreth my soul and leadeth me in the paths of righteousness. Though I walk through the valley of the shadow of death I shall fear no evil for Thou art with me, Thy rod and Thy staff they comfort me. Surely Goodness and Mercy shall surround me all the days of my life, and I shall dwell in the House of the Lord for ever.’8

Thanks again for the little book by Andersen, and in thought a handshake, and regards to everyone at the Rooses’. I heard from home that Mr Tersteeg had been in Etten.9 In haste. Ever,

Your loving brother.

Vincent

notes

1. Vincent is referring to the so-called ‘text of the day’ (a lesson), an edifying text printed on calenders and in booklets for the pious to reflect upon.

2. 1 Thess. 5:24.

3. Biblical.

4. Exod. 3:14.

5. This refers to Vincent’s application for a position in Scarborough (Great Britain), which he mentions in letter 70 (cf. FR b2233).

6. In his last letter Vincent had asked Theo for a copy of Andersen’s Vertellingen van de maan (see letter 68).

7. It is not known to whom this refers, though it is possibly the person mentioned in letter 43, ll. 12-13.

8. Ps. 23:6; the text differs in a number of places from the King James version.

9. Tersteeg will have discussed Vincent’s dismissal with his parents in Etten. Mrs van Gogh had already informed Theo: ‘You know that Mr Tersteeg has been here, I believe he also knows a great deal about it, about Vincent. We were pleased to see him’ (FR b2231, 5 February).