GAUGUIN Paul (1848-1903).

GAUGUIN Paul (1848-1903). L.A.S. "P. Gauguin", [Copenhagen late November-early December 1884], to Camille PISSARRO; 4 pages in-8. Beautiful, long letter from Gauguin about his arrival in Denmark and his new paintings. He has barely finished his "which has been very difficult, given that the owners in this country are excessively meticulous; most of them don't want children, and if this continues, it will be a crime to have descendants"... He thanks Pissarro for his observations on his painting... "In my new research, the skies are difficult. I'm trying to make them very simple and yet very divided in tone: my new brushwork, which is not very cross-hatched, responds to this with large stopping points. The sky is always very luminous, with no major deviations; because of its limpid, humid essence, it cannot, like a wall, be rough-grained, even though it is matte. I'm well aware that the great accuracy of tone must give this. I need exercise, and I still have very little compared to all of you. We'll see about that later. Copenhagen is extraordinarily picturesque and where I live you can paint very characteristic and pretty things. At the moment it's freezing at 10 degrees and the sleighs are running down the street. I'm furious at not being able to paint at the moment, but in a while I hope to send some interesting things to Paris. In Denmark, it's either very easy or very difficult to be a strong painter. Very easy, because what you see is so bad, in such bad taste, that the slightest thing of art has to burst out in the middle of it. On the other hand, it's very difficult because this bad current is so much part of the national character that it's almost impolite to do otherwise". He describes to his friend the interior of a Danish salon, with "ever-new varnished walnut furniture", busts of poets "with flowers and ribbons around them", photographs everywhere, and "a few landscapes in oils like chromos". He's waiting for Pissarro's etchings. His wife has found French lessons... "the Danes are meticulous, bitter-sweet, petty and extravagantly schoking. A 2-year-old child doesn't pee in the street, that would shock morals. An illegal household is forbidden by law and may be punished. On the other hand, engaged couples can go anywhere in pairs. What do you say to that"... Then he talks at length about his talents as a graphologist, which enable him to discover people's character from their handwriting: "I'm not very knowledgeable yet, but I'm sure that one day I'll discover not only the character but the feeling that has guided a letter. [...] Thought has a direct influence on writing". He asks if Pissarro has received a letter from CEZANNE. Gauguin's wife Mette adds a few words for Mme Pissarro. Correspondance (ed. V. Merlhes), t. I, pp. 76-77 (no. 57). Provenance: Camille PISSARRO Archives (sale November 21, 1975, no. 59).