1. With regard to Van Gogh’s problems in the Borinage, see letter 153, n. 4.
a. Read: ‘kruit’ (ammunition).
2. A bibliography of the writings of J.P. Stricker appeared in Berlage 1887, pp. 35-36; see also BLGNP, vol. 1, p. 364. He also made contributions to various issues of Het Morgenlicht: Stichtelijk Dagboek voor het Christelijk Gezin (from 1866) and Bijbelsch Dagboek, of Godsdienstige Overdenkingen, the sequel of Godsdienstig Dagboek, of Stichtelijke Overdenkingen op Elken Dag des Jaars (from 1858).
3. J.P. Stricker, De schriftelijke nalatenschap der oud-Israëlitische profeten, wijzen en dichters. Amsterdam 1880 (Volksbibliotheek, published on behalf of the ‘Vereeniging tot handhaving en voortplanting van het liberale beginsel’ (Association for the maintenance and propagation of the principle of liberalism). See Brinkman 1882-1891; Powers Erickson 1998, p. 64 (n. 7), and Greer 1997, p. 42.
4. Examples of this are: ‘De profetie van Habakuk. (Eene bijdrage tot regte waardering van de profetische schriften des Ouden Verbonds)’, published in Maandschrift voor den Beschaafden Stand ter Bevordering van Bijbelkennis en Christelijk Leven. Amsterdam 1856, pp. 257-281; and ‘De profetie van Nahum’ in Maandschrift voor Christenen, ter Bevordering van Bijbelkennis en Godsdienstig Leven. Amsterdam 1861, pp. 699-732. Evidently the last essay was also published separately (see Berlage 1887, p. 35).
Stricker wanted to make these books of the Bible – which were less well known and not yet available in modern translations – accessible to the faithful, in the hope of arousing their interest and appreciation. He sketches the historical background of the prophets and the biblical texts, giving a summary and analysis of their prophecies and emphasizing their poetical qualities.
5. Uncle Vincent and Aunt Cornelie, who lived in Princenhage.
6. For Monsieur X, see letter 187.
7. Regarding this pronouncement, taken from Michelet’s L’amour and La femme, see letter 180, n. 2.
8. Mammon is the personification of riches as an evil spirit; cf. Matt. 6:24.
9. Deut. 28:23.
10. 1 Pet. 4:8.
11. Cf. Ps. 130:4; Van Gogh wrote ‘genade’ (mercy) instead of ‘vergeving’ (forgiveness).
12. In this context see Michelet, who says in his ‘Introduction’ to L’amour: ‘The greatest success of the day is that of a book by a woman, Mrs Stowe’s novel, which has been translated into every language and is read all over the world, and has become the gospel of freedom for a race’ (Le plus grand succès du temps est celui d’un livre de femme, le roman de madame Stowe, traduit dans toutes les langues, et lu par toute la terre, devenu pour une race l’évangile de la liberté) (Michelet, L’amour, p. 19).
b. stuffed God: Van Gogh added the French ‘(empaillé)’, which also means ‘stuffed’.
13. Cf. 1 John 4:7-16.
14. A reference to letters 183 and 187.
15. For ‘onberouwelijk’ (unrepentant), cf. Rom. 11:29 (‘without repentance’).
16. Cf. Heb. 11:9 and Jer. 12:5.
17. On 7 December the Strickers would celebrate their 40th anniversary.
c. Read: ‘onbarmhartig’ (mercilessly, here ‘cruelly’).
d. Meaning: guard, save, salvage (here ‘defend’).
e. Meaning: ‘slecht’ (bad, in this context ‘shaky’).
18. This refers to the family of Edouard Jean Conrad Hamman, who lived in Paris. Vincent visited them in 1875 and Theo paid them a visit in the summer of 1878; the brothers had been encouraged to do this by their parents and Uncle Vincent (FR b982; b984; b990 and b5342). See also letter 41, n. 10.
19. A saying that means ‘leaving matters to take their own course’, ‘going on as though nothing had happened’.
20. This probably refers to a recent drawing of a digger, possibly Digger (F 866 / JH 54 [2347]); cf. also the digger mentioned in letter 187.
[2347]
21. Taken from Jean de la Fontaine, Fables; see letter 127, n. 20.
22. A saying. Van Gogh wrote ‘lieux’ (places) but meant ‘lieues’ (leagues, here ‘miles’).
f. Meaning: ‘tegenwerken’ (thwart, hinder, cross).
g. Meaning: ‘slagen’ (succeed).
23. A saying that means ‘One shouldn’t sell the bearskin before shooting the bear’ (Don’t count your chickens before they hatch).
24. Luke 11:23 and Matt. 12:30. Michelet does not quote these biblical passages literally; Van Gogh means that in such books as L’amour and La femme Michelet – in contrast to Mr van Gogh – argues in favour of uniting lovers.
25. In his ‘Introduction’ to L’amour Michelet says: ‘Two people spend less than one. I see many a bachelor who remains such from a dread of the expenses of marriage, but spends infinitely more.’ (Deux personnes dépensent moins qu’une. Je vois force célibataires qui restent tels par l’effroi des dépenses du mariage, mais dépensent infiniment plus.) And he goes on to say: ‘These “marriages of a moment”, that are women’s wretchedness, are not for that reason the less dearly beloved by men’ (Ces mariages d’un moment, qui sont la misère de la femme, n’en sont pas moins très-chers pour l’homme) (Michelet, L’amour, pp. 39-40).
26. Deut. 28:23.
27. Van Gogh plays on words in the French.
28. Taken from Michelet’s La femme (Michelet 1863, p. 67). Van Gogh quotes this sentence again in letters 225 and 245.
29. Taken from Michelet’s L’amour; see letter 180, n. 2.
30. A reference to the ‘Trojan horse’, by means of which the Greeks were able to conquer Troy after a 10-year siege (as described in Homer’s Iliad).
31. Luke 15:4-7.
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