730 To Paul Gauguin. Arles, Friday, 4 January 1889.

metadata

No. 730 (Brieven 1990 734, Complete Letters 566)
From: Vincent van Gogh
To: Paul Gauguin
Date: Arles, Friday, 4 January 1889

Source status

Original manuscript

Location

Amsterdam, Van Gogh Museum, inv. no. b613 V/1962

Date

Like letter 729 to Theo, this letter was written on Friday, 4 January 1889. This was, after all, the day of Vincent’s ‘first trip out of the hospital’ (ll. 2-3). See letter 729, Date.

Additional

Written in pencil on the back of letter 729 to Theo. It is not certain whether Theo let Gauguin read the letter in this form or whether he made a copy for him.

Ongoing topics

Vincent’s first crisis and hospitalization (728)

Theo’s journey to Arles (728)

Gauguin’s departure from Arles (728)

original text

1r:1

Mon cher ami Gauguin

je profite de ma première sortie de l’hôpital pour vous écrire deux mots d’amitié bien sincère et profonde.

J’ai beaucoup pensé à vous à l’hôpital et même en pleine fievre et faiblesse relative.

Dites.– le voyage de mon frere Theo était-il donc bien nécessaire – mon ami? Maintenant au moins rassurez le tout à fait et vous-même je vous en prie. ayez confiance qu’en somme aucun mal n’existe dans ce meilleur des mondes où tout marche toujours pour le mieux.1

1v:2

alors je désire que vous disiez bien des chôses de ma part au bon Schoeffenecker –

que vous vous absteniez jusqu’à plus mure reflexion faite de part et d’autre de dire du mal de notre pauvre petite maison jaune –

que vous saluez de ma part les peintres que j’ai vu à Paris.

Je vous souhaite la prospérité à Paris. avec une bonne poignee de main

t. à v.

Vincent

Roulin a été veritablement bon pour moi, c’est lui qui a eu la présence d’esprit de me faire sortir de là avant que les autres n’etaient convaincus.2

Répondez moi s.v.p.

translation

1r:1

My dear friend Gauguin

I’m taking advantage of my first trip out of the hospital to write you a few most sincere and profound words of friendship.

I have thought of you a great deal in the hospital, and even in the midst of fever and relative weakness.

Tell me. Was my brother Theo’s journey really necessary – my friend? Now at least reassure him completely, and yourself, please. Trust that in fact no evil exists in this best of worlds, where everything is always for the best.1 1v:2

So I want you to give my warm regards to good Schuffenecker –

to refrain from saying bad things about our poor little yellow house until more mature reflection on either side –

to give my regards to the painters I saw in Paris.

I wish you prosperity in Paris. With a good handshake

Ever yours,

Vincent

Roulin has been really kind to me, it was he who had the presence of mind to get me out of there before the others were convinced.2

Please reply.

notes

1. For this quotation from Voltaire’s Candide, see letter 568, n. 3.

2. Van Gogh means that Roulin had arranged for him to leave the hospital for a short while on 4 January. On that day Roulin wrote to Theo: ‘Monsieur the house doctor felt slightly anxious about letting him go out; I told him that I would be in charge of accompanying him and seeing that he returns to the hospital’ (FR b1068).