1. Van Gogh had got Theo to pass on this message; see letter 578.

2. Arles is on the river Rhône. There are also several canals in and outside the town, including the Arles-Bouc Canal, which is shown in the letter sketch. It is also depicted in the paintings of the Langlois bridge mentioned later in the letter.

3. Although strictly speaking a ‘crépon’ is a woodcut printed on crepe paper or crepe fabric, Van Gogh uses the term for Japanese prints in general, which he also calls ‘Japonaiseries’. He and Theo had built up a collection in Paris, and later he repeatedly urged his brother to acquire new ones. See for their collection of Japanese prints: cat. Amsterdam 1991. In July 1888 Van Gogh wrote to Theo telling him that he had introduced Bernard and Anquetin to Japanese graphic art (letter 642). It was a major influence on the new style that Anquetin and Bernard developed, Cloisonnism. Cf. letter 575, n. 7.

4. For the women of Arles, see letter 578, n. 14. They wore the traditional costume of the region. See exhib. cat. Arles 1999, and Dorn 1990, p. 152.

5. Bouillabaisse is a regional fish soup served with garlic-flavoured mayonaise (aïoli).

6. The fragment Walking couple (F 544 / JH 1369 ) is all that has survived of this study, which is reproduced in its entirety in the letter sketch The Langlois bridge with walking couple (F - / JH 1370). In letter 589 Van Gogh said that he had ruined the study.

7. The Langlois bridge with washerwomen (F 397 / JH 1368 ).