1. It seems that Van Gogh drew the sketches in the letter in Nieuw-Amsterdam and wrote the letter there too.

a. Read: ‘Wanneer op zeker moment’ (when at a certain point).

2. This idea, that a thought alone is not enough but has to lead to ‘action’, could be derived from Carlyle: see letter 274, n. 11.

3. Saying, derived from Hos. 8:7.

4. Adolphe Goupil, founder of Goupil & Cie.

5. Van Gogh says he has written to Sien in letter 395.

6. From 1858 onwards Uncle Vincent van Gogh was a partner (‘associé’) in Goupil & Cie. His art gallery in The Hague had been a branch of the firm since then. He had to leave the firm for health reasons in 1872, when he was 53 (from letter 615 it appears that he had lung problems). Evidently the arrangements when he left were not handled as they should have been. Nonetheless he was still a silent partner (‘commanditaire’) in Goupil from 1872 to 1878. See Etat des lieux 1994, p. 149.

7. Cf. Matt. 13:15, Acts 28:27.

8. We do not know whether this sketch, Workmen beside a mound of peat (F - / JH 416), was based on a drawing or a painting.

9. This letter sketch relates to the painting Peat barge with two figures (F 21 / JH 415 ). The location may be in the Stadnitsky district, which Van Gogh could easily reach from his lodgings by walking along Schooldijk. See Dijk and Van der Sluis 2001, pp. 214-219.

10. The letter sketches Peasant burning weeds (F - / JH 419) and Farmhouse at night (F - / JH 419) relate to the painting Peasant burning weeds (F 20 / JH 417 ) and the drawing Farmhouse at night (F 1097 / JH 418 ).

11. This ‘before’ could refer to the three earlier pictures of the subject that Van Gogh made in The Hague: see letter 361.

b. Means: ‘modderavond’ (muddy evening).

12. The idea that Vincent could perhaps earn something in Theo’s potential new firm may be an indication that Theo was considering switching to printing or publishing. A formulation a few letters later points in the same direction: ‘I wouldn’t have thought that if, say, you’d been able to write, I’m on to something in the sphere of printing, for instance, or — I’ve discovered some bold new artists with whom I’ll be able to do something’ (letter 407, ll. 69-72).

c. Means: ‘kalmte’ (calm).