a. Read: ‘in slechte staat’ (in poor condition, in a bad state).

1. Van Gogh had indeed become an associate member of this artists’ society, evidently after Mauve had put in a good word for him (cf. letter 199). He is listed as no. 18 in the membership records, and paid a six-month fee of 6.25 guilders. See Archief Pulchri, inv. no. 59-289, October 1881- September 1882, in GAH.

2. Theo had visited Etten in July 1881 (see letter 170, n. 1).

3. Something Mauve had said prompted Van Gogh to use this metaphorical expression (see letter 192).