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Amice Rappard,
I received the package of wood engravings on March 30; as
there was no accompanying letter, I waited a few days to see
if you were going to write me. Now, however, I shall write you
a few words to thank you very much for this batch, and to tell
you that I found several sheets among them that I did not have
myself (among other things, “A Ghost Story” by
Thomas, “Christmas Carol” by Gilbert, Oberlander's
“In der Kirche” [In church], etc.).
I gave the other ones to Van der Weele, who was very glad to
have them. I imagine you will be very busy with the picture you
intend for the exhibition. When everything connected with it is
finished, I shall look forward eagerly to the resumption of our
correspondence about lithography and black and white in
general, and - if it is possible - no less to getting together
with you.
I am writing you only a short letter this time, as I can
understand that you are very busy.
It goes without saying that the printer's ink -
diluted with more or less turpentine (you can dilute it until
it is so thin that you can wash with it with the utmost
transparency - on the other hand, one can use it in so thick a
condition that one gets the deepest black tones) - is the
principal ingredient you use. I think this is a method with
which much can be done. Well, more about it later on - I am
still experimenting myself.
The drawing I am working on now with this method is an
orphan man standing near a coffin - in what they call
the “corpses' den.”
Adieu, with a handshake, and thanks again for what you sent
me,
Ever yours, Vincent
It stands to reason that, in order to simplify things, you
could experiment with printers' ink and turpentine only. This
time, however, I don't mean autographic ink, but ordinary
printer's ink. Perhaps you have it already, otherwise you can
get it at any printing office.
It is my experience that this printer's ink clings very
nicely to the coarse grain of a certain paper which is called
papier torchon here (but which is nothing like the Whatman
torchon); Smulders ordered it again a short while ago in two
sizes, the large size 3.75 guilders per quire.
1. See letter 279 to Theo.
At this time, Vincent was 30 year oldSource: Vincent van Gogh. Letter to Anthon van Rappard. Written c. 2-4 April 1883 in The Hague. Translated by Mrs. Johanna van Gogh-Bonger, edited by Robert Harrison, number R33. URL: https://www.webexhibits.org/vangogh/letter/12/R33.htm.
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