Paul Gauguin (1848-1903)
Autograph letter signed ('Paul Gauguin') to Émile Schuffenecker ('Mon cher Schuff'), [Pont-Aven, postmarked 27 April 1888]
In French. 3½ pages, 176 x 112mm, on two detached leaves. Provenance: Sotheby's, 26 November 1980, lot 191.

'Pont Aven is disappearing under the rain and the mud'. The weather is preventing Gauguin from painting: 'I am doing nothing or almost nothing. If only I could take some models I would do some life-painting; alas, the money is lacking'. At least his health has improved: 'And yet what can one do without the sinews of war?'. Gauguin thanks his friend for a book of art criticism, dismissing an article by Signac as lacking novelty: 'And no matter what Pissarro does, these people smell of mould – There was black paint, now there is white paint. Bringing everything back to black or bringing everything back to white: is that colour?'. The brother of the painter Charles Laval is in Pont Aven for two months, and he and Gauguin are 'discussing literature'; Gustave de Maupassant (father of the novelist) is also coming, and Gauguin asks Schuffenecker's view of his paintings. He concludes: 'Now all I ask for is a little sunshine and a little money. On the first point I am not worried, it will come sooner or later, but on the second…’.

‘Pont Aven disparaît sous la pluie et la boue, c’est vous dire que je ne fais rien ou presque rien. Si encore je pouvais prendre des modèles je ferais de la figure ; malheureusement l’argent fait défaut … Je suis en voie du complet rétablissement … Et cependant que faire sans le nerf de la guerre. … Je vous remercie d’avoir pensé à moi pour le livre … Pissarro aura beau faire, ces gens là sentent le moisi – Il y avait la peinture noire maintenant il y a la peinture blanche. Tout ramener au noir ou tout ramener au blanc est-ce la couleur ... Je ne demande plus maintenant qu’un peu de soleil et un peu d’argent. Sur le premier point je ne suis pas inquiet il viendra tôt ou tard mais sur le second …’.

Gauguin's friendship with Émile Schuffenecker (1851-1934) dates back to his years working for the stockbroker Bertin: they met there in 1872, and worked together for several years before both left to embark on careers as artists. Gauguin first came to the Breton town of Pont-Aven in summer 1886 and he was to be profoundly influenced by the town, its surroundings and atmosphere and the other artists who gathered there.