Letter 058 Paris, 28 March 1876
Dear Theo,
Just one word more, probably the last I shall write from Paris. I leave here on Friday night and shall be home Saturday morning at the same time as at Christmas.
Yesterday I saw six pictures by Michel, how I wish you could have seen them too! Sunken paths through sandy fields leading to a mill, or a man going home across the heath with grey skies above 鈥?so simple and beautiful. I think the 鈥淢en of Emmaus鈥?saw nature in the same way as Michel and I always think of them when I see one of his pictures.
At the same time I saw a very large picture by Jules Dupr茅. There is black marshy soil as far as one can see,
on the second plane is a river, and in the foreground, a pool with three horses. Both the river and the pool reflect a bank of white and grey clouds, behind which the sun has set. The sky is a soft blue, with some grey-red and purple at the horizon.
I saw these pictures at Durand Ruel鈥檚; more than twenty-five etchings after Millet, the same number after Michel and a great number after Dupr茅 and Corot. All the other artists can be purchased there at 1 franc apiece; it was tempting. I could not resist the Millet and bought the last three that were to be had after 鈥淭he Angelus鈥? of course, my brother will get one of them at the first opportunity.
Write again soon, kind regards to Roos, and Mr. and Mrs. Tersteeg and all who may ask after me. A handshake from Your loving brother, Vincent