1. Sien had given birth to a son on 2 July 1882; see letter 242.

2. Van Gogh had been treated for gonorrhoea in the hospital in June 1882; see letters 237 ff.

a. Here means: ‘hartverscheurende’ (heart-rending).

3. Van Gogh had written about the disadvantages of a job for Marie in letter 308. His words ‘previous letter’ should be read as ‘a previous letter’, not ‘the previous letter’.

b. Means: ‘blauwe kringen’ (blue bags).