Letter 517 Arles, c. 3 August 1888
My dear Theo,
I more or less presume that you have gone to Holland. I am rather inclined to think that they were expecting you in Holland, from the letter I received from our sister, and also because I have not heard from you about this business.
I have had a letter from Gauguin, in which he talks about painting, and complains of not having enough money to come here, but nothing new or different.
I have sent Russell 12 drawings after painted studies, and so had an opportunity to speak to him about it again.
It will soon be Michaelmas, and I have only taken the house till then. Am I to take it for a half-year again or not, that is what I would very much like to decide, after G. had seen it, and not without him.
I could not pay my rent on the first, as I had the model all week. I am working on two portraits of the same model, which are more important to me than anything else. But it was just when I put my fellow off till next Monday for the month鈥檚 rent that he said something about being able to find another tenant for the house if I had not decided to keep it. I鈥檓 not much surprised, since I have had it repaired myself, and it is worth more.
In my last letter I forgot to answer your question about the new canvas from Tasset at 5.50 fr. It is very good and just what I wanted. If I do a portrait, or indeed anything that I am anxious to make lasting, he may be sure that I鈥檒l use it. But not much of it, as I have just made up my mind to use cheap canvas for the studies.
If your package has not been sent off, I should very much like you to add 4 small tubes of geranium lake.
If, indeed, I haven鈥檛 already ordered this colour, but I don鈥檛 think I ordered any reds except carmine.
So now I am working on two figures, one the head [F 433, JH1524], and one a half length with the hands [F432, JH1522], of an old postman in a dark blue uniform. He has a head like Socrates, interesting to paint.
There is no better or shorter way of improving your work than doing figures. And I always feel confident when I am doing portraits, knowing that this work has much more depth 鈥?it isn鈥檛 the right word perhaps,
but it is what makes me cultivate whatever is best and deepest in me.
Good-by for the present, and a good handshake.
Ever yours, Vincent