1. Van Gogh had enclosed this paint order for Tasset in letter 613. He probably sent a sample of Tasset’s canvas that he had used before so that Theo could order the same thing again (this is the case in letter 621). It is also possible that he sent a sample of the unprepared canvas he had bought in Arles, for which he had requested primer in letter 610.

2. Van Gogh used these watercolours to paint the following works in June: Fishing boats on the beach at Saintes-Maries (F 1429 / JH 1459), Wheat stacks (F 1425 / JH 1441 ), The old mill (F 1464 / JH 1497), The harvest (F 1483 / JH 1439 ) and in July Zouave (F 1482 / JH 1487 ). See cat. Amsterdam 2007, p. 134, n. 33. In The harvest (F 1484 / JH 1438 ) watercolour is a minor element. The style Van Gogh describes here can be found in F 1429, and in the later watercolours The night café (F 1463 / JH 1576 ), The Yellow House (‘The street’) (F 1413 / JH 1591 ) and Breton women in the meadow (after Emile Bernard) (F 1422 / JH 1654 ).

3. Van Gogh had suggested exchanging two of his drawings for a study by Koning; see letter 600. After he left Paris Koning returned to this question in a letter to Theo of 4 June 1888: ‘I shall send you something soon, then you can pick something out of it to exchange with Vincent. I’d rather have one painted study than the 2 drawings, if he doesn’t mind’ (FR b1077). As far as we know the exchange did not go ahead, although Koning did send work to Theo (see letter 666, n. 9).