1. Van Gogh must mean that he has tried to find work with the publisher and printer Smulders, where he had his own lithographs printed (see letter 281 ff), and with the publisher and printer Belinfante at Wagenstraat 100-102 in The Hague. On this firm, managed at the time by Auguste Belinfante, see J.A. Levy, ‘Aug. Belinfante’, De Amsterdammer (26 February 1908).

2. Van Gogh had written about the décadence, which in his view had begun after Millet, in letter 280 of 5 November 1882.

3. Van Gogh had seen Millet’s drawings at Hôtel Drouot in June 1875: see letter 36.

4. The brothers were intrigued by the country graveyard next to the church and the weavers; Vincent repeatedly depicted both during his period in Nuenen.

5. Fromont jeune et Risler aîné (1874) by Alphonse Daudet is a novel about the technical draughtsman Risler, who pays the cost of his brother’s studies and whose drive, success and moral sense conflict with the corruption of those around him. For a long time he works at night on the design of a machine that will make the production of wallpaper quicker and better. The only distraction from his austere life he allows himself is drinking a glass of beer with his neighbours, who have private means and look down on him because he has to earn his living. The success of his machine, his life’s work, brings large profits. He does not change his way of life and carries on working. When he feels himself betrayed by his circle in every respect, he commits suicide.

a. Means: ‘uitgaven’ (outgoings).

6. After being employed by Goupil & Cie for nearly seven years, Van Gogh was given to understand in January 1876 that he would be dismissed as of April of that year; see letter 65.