1. Letter 185.

2. In La femme Jules Michelet treats the various stages of a woman’s life, arguing that a woman can only have a happy and fulfilling life in marriage, under the supervision, as it were, of the right man: ‘She must have a household, she must be married’ (Il faut qu’elle ait un ménage, il faut qu’elle soit mariée) (Michelet 1863, p. 34). He describes the basis of mutual love and a sense of duty, and explains how the security, protection and help offered by a man, combined with the devotion, purity and sincerity of a woman can lead to ‘divine unity’. Michelet propounds a resolute, thoroughgoing and active love, because ‘The modern man knows what he wants, what he’s doing and where he’s going’ (L’homme moderne sait ce qu’il veut, ce qu’il fait et où il va) (p. 241). Van Gogh could justify his relationship with Sien by means of Michelet’s argument that men who are unwilling to protect a woman should be ashamed of themselves (p. 24). Michelet goes on to say: ‘A woman dies, if she has no home and no protection’ (La femme meurt, si elle n’a foyer et protection) (p. 63).

3. It is not known which great-uncle this refers to.

4. Eph. 2:14.

5. ‘Mealtime’ must be the same drawing Van Gogh mentioned to Van Rappard (see letter 184, n. 4). The ‘fire-lighter’ is probably identical with the ‘peasant lad lighting the fire in the hearth’ mentioned in letter 185. By the ‘almsman’ Van Gogh must mean Man sitting by the fireplace (F 868 / JH 80 ); see letter 185. Almsmen received poor relief from the diaconate of the Dutch Reformed congregation.