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Letter from Vincent van Gogh to Mr. and Mrs. Ginoux
Auvers-sur-Oise, c. 12 June 1890

My dear friends Ginoux,

I will reply to Mrs. Ginoux's letter without delay, to tell you that I am happy to have heard from you; I am very sorry to hear that Mr. Ginoux was injured and suffered much pain. I urgently request you to let somebody else pack my things, so that he need not wear himself out with it; I shall be pleased to pay you back all the expenses that you may incur, but I insist upon his not exerting himself too much lest the wound burst open again. In this way, however, I count on your sending the things off on Saturday, for I am anxiously awaiting them.

Yes, I too was very sorry that I could not return to Arles to say goodbye to you all, for you know well that I had become attached to the people and things of your town with a sincere friendship.

This gentleman knows a good deal about painting, and he greatly likes mine; he encourages me very much, and two or three times a week he comes and visits me for a few hours to see what I am doing.

Twice they have written articles on my pictures. Once in a Paris newspaper, and the other time in a newspaper in Brussels, where I had an exhibition, and now, a very short time ago, there was an article in a paper of my native country, Holland, and the consequence was that many people went to look at my pictures. And this is not the end.

But still I often think of you all, one cannot do what one wants in life. The more you feel attached to a spot, the more ruthlessly you are compelled to leave it, but the memories remain, and one remembers - as in a looking glass, darkly - one's absent friends.

Here is the address:

Vincent van Gogh,

chez Ravoux, Place de la Mairie,

Auvers-sur-Oise,

(Seine-et-Oise)

Petite vitesse

In this way there can be no mistakes. And I thank you in advance for your trouble, and mind that Ginoux hires a man to do the packing, and does not exert himself; I shall repay your expenses.

Wishing you good health and complete recovery,

Cordially yours, Vincent van Gogh


At this time, Vincent was 37 year old
Source:
Vincent van Gogh. Letter to Mr. and Mrs. Ginoux. Written c. 12 June 1890 in Auvers-sur-Oise. Translated by Mrs. Johanna van Gogh-Bonger, edited by Robert Harrison, number .
URL: https://www.webexhibits.org/vangogh/letter/21/640a.htm.

This letter may be freely used, in accordance with the terms of this site.
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