Letter T34
Paris, 10 May 1890
My dear Vincent,
Many thanks for your two letters; I am happy to see that you
continue to feel better, and it would give me a great deal of
pleasure if you could undertake the journey without danger.
Does it seem to you too that it is such a long time since we
have seen each other? If you think it so annoying to travel in
the company of one of the people of the establishment, my God,
you must take the risk, although I must say that I am not like
you, and that if I were you I should do it to avoid all the
misery that would be brought about by the recurrence of a
crisis, for instance if at some unknown railway station you
should fall into the hands of people you don't know, and of
whom you cannot tell how they would treat you. Now as soon as
you start be sure to send me a telegram at once to let me know
what time you will arrive at the Gare de Lyon, so that I may be
able to go meet you. Of course it is understood that you will
stay with us, if you will content yourself with the little room
where we have lodged Wil and many others.
I wrote to Dr. Gachet yesterday to ask him when he is coming
to Paris, for then he will sit for consultations, and I asked
him at the same time to look for a boardinghouse for you. A
change of country might certainly do you good, but with a view
to wintertime it might be better if you were in a warmer
climate. But we shall have time enough to talk about it. I also
wrote to Dr. Peyron to tell him that, unless there should be
some definite danger, I should like him to let you do as you
wish, and to let you go. As he has been good to you, try not to
hurt him.
Would it be possible for you to find a quiet spot
where you will not be surrounded by people or things that annoy
you? I hope so from the bottom of my heart, and at any rate it
would mean an improvement, but people are much the same
everywhere, and when you are engrossed in artistic things, you
will find precious few people who understand you. To them it is
Latin, and they see only a pastime in it, which one should not
take seriously.
I have not yet been to the Salon, which they say is pretty
mediocre, but there is an exhibition of Japanese drawings and
crépe prints - you will see it when you are here -
which is superb. I wish you were here already.
Don't forget to wire. Cordial greetings from Jo and the
little one; they are both well; a cordial handshake, and I hope
to see you soon.
Theo
I am sending you herewith 150 francs for the journey; and if
there should not be enough money, please send me a telegram.
1
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See Vincent's letter 633.
At this time, Vincent was 37 year oldSource: Theo van Gogh. Letter to Vincent van Gogh. Written 10 May 1890 in Saint-Rémy. Translated by Mrs. Johanna van Gogh-Bonger, edited by Robert Harrison, number T34. URL: https://www.webexhibits.org/vangogh/letter/20/T34.htm.
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