Letter
7 Pages
Transcription: Tor Martin Leknes
Translation: Francesca Nichols
Transcription
Kjære Kramer
Jeg sender i dag de 4 omtalte træsnit af "soleie-
natten", – samt 2 af "vaarnat og seljekall" i sort
og hvidt, – de sidste er jeg ikke helt fornöid
med – jeg har skaaret om platerne lidt, – men jeg skal
lave nye bedre om önskes, – men jeg var saa træt nù
efter alt strævet med disse soleie-billederne, at jeg orkede
ikke mere, – det kommer vist til at gaa aar og dag inden
jeg atter orker at trykke et soleiebillede, – saa lei var jeg
af dem; – papirets daarlighed gjorde nù ogsaa sit, – jeg
prövede at variere dem lidt for ikke at gaa altfor
træt i motivet, – dù veed jeg maatte jo lave 5 udgaver
af dem til Meyer förend han fandt et maleri af moti-
vet, som var hans samling værdig (han beholdt dog 2
i samlingen, – men nù er ingen af disse i samlingen
trods alt mit stræv med dem den gang; – de forskjellige
"pröver", – de som han altsaa ikke valgte til sit galleri,
– fik han for en bagatel). Jeg har altsaa forsögt at erindre
mig disse forskjellige billeder nù ùnder trykningen
og har gjort mig all mùlig flid, – men vanskelighe-
derne med papiret har indvirket paa resùltatet. –
Bedst synes jeg om det med den "blygraalige" himmelen.
Kùnde Dù sende mig nogle kroner straks, vilde jeg
være dig meget taknemlig, da jeg har været ùden en
öre i snart en maaned og har maattet laane hos mine
venner her til stadighed – og har flere pantinger i vente.
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Jeg har for længst pùrret dine arbeidsfolk om arbeidet –
(jeg er bleven nogenlùnde "forligt" med Knùt Pedersen,
men Aasen negter at gjöre mere med mit atteliere)
Imidlertid har de nù i snart 14 dage arbeidet ude paa
"Nesset", – de har faaet ùd glassrùderne og kitten, som dù
sendte. Jeg spùrgte Dem, om de troede at kùnne faa
hùset færdigt efter aftalen – til Paaske, – dertid svarede
Aasen, at Kramer havde sagt, at naar det kùn var færdigt
til sommerferien, – saa var han fornöiet – . Jeg tænkte
med mig: at det kùnde blive et lidt "töieligt" begreb, og
mener derfor at dù bör opgive en bestemt dato, –
her er jo "sommerferien" meget forskjellig, – da enkelte
lærere blir tidlig færdig med sine "skoleùger" – andre
sent; – (jeg skolede engang for Fond nogle ùger, da
han ellers havde staaet til <rest> med saa mange skoleùger,
at han först havde faaet "ferie" ud i august engang).
Jeg hörer af Bertel Nybö at Hjördis skal konfirmeres til
vaaren, – Kari har "sögt" om at faa gaa til konfirma-
tion nù, – hùn er for ùng, – men synes hùn blir for stor at
gaa senere. Eikaas lærer med hende om kveldene for
at hùn skal faa komme hurtigere ùd af skolen.
Engel beder mig hilse frù Aagot og takke hende
tusende gange for klær, som hùn har send til smaa-
barna. – Modtag ogsaa min hjærteligste tak! –
Engel er syk fremdeles, – men er for ùtaalmodig til
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ligge iro – staar op stadig nù – og blir verre – "knùder-
ne" blir stadig större, – men hùn kjender sig ikke syk,
siger hùn; – gigtfeberen – mærker hùn nok af og
til i leddene; – hùn beder mig skrive til dig
og spörge, om dù vilde være saa venlig at tale for hende
med en specialist i "gigtfeber og "knùderos"-sygdomme"
og bede om hans raad; – vor doktor: – Bydal – siger næsten
aldrig noget bare komanderer hende til at ligge, – og det
liker hùn ikke. "Besta" ligger endnù. –––
Konsùlationen hos specialisten – faar dù trække fra
hvad dù faar for træsnittene, – ligesaa andet, som jeg er
tænkt at plage dig med af komissioner. –––
Jeg har nù faaet postmesteren i Förde til at skrive
for mig directe til Japan efter japansk papir, –
saasnart jeg faar fat i det, skal jeg trykke "lys juninat",
til dig, – den blir nemlig aldrig ret god paa alminde-
ligt papir, – ligesaa med kvernbilledet. –––
Ja saa kommer jeg med kommissionerne: – blir jeg for
plagsom faar dù sige fra og "opsætte" de vanskligste til
senere:
1. noget sandpapir (forskjellige nr. til at pùdse af platerne, der
(er noksaa medtagne og opstribede – af stadig <flytning>
2. Tyk 3 stk. linoleùm (flat pakket) circa 50x70cm jeg finder det
"tyske" nye, som dù skrev om, at være af for smaat format)
3. En glas-skaal ca. 20x30 cm. – agter at forsöke mig lidt i den
ædle raderkùnst – kan dù skaffe mig nogle zinkplater? Skaalen kan
dù antagelig faa hos Wernöe gulbrandsen eller Nerlien.
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4. Disse "MATADOR"-lampebrænderne vore er stadig i
ùstand , – jeg har en gammel brænder som jeg brugte
för til en arbeidslampe, – kùnde dù faa glas og "veek"
til den? – jeg sender brænderen i en extra pakke
5. Jeg har bestilt mig ny baat til sommeren, – men dette
elendige nöstet mit er daarligt for baater, – tænker
der for paa at faa mig nogle "taljer" eller "blokker", saa
jeg kunde heise den op, naar vandet er stort, – jeg saa
hos Anda en hel del gamle blokker – enkelte endog
ùbrùgte – kùnde dù faa nogle rimelig billig – dù var
saa flink at prùtte der husker jeg, – jeg vilde gjerne have
et par i hùset ogsaa og et par at heise op sækker fra
veien op til gaards. o.s.v. ––– _____________________
6. Sættepoteter – Ja dette gjælder egentlig dig selv – vi
vilde gjerne sætte en del poteter til dig ùde paa Neset –
Zakkarias kjörer hver dag paa gjödsel du paa Nesset og
er altsaa sikker paa at faa "slaa" hos dig i aar ogsaa,
det er jo godt, at den magre jord blir "op hævdet", – men dù
har kanske tilbùd fra Knùt Pedersen eller andre
misùndelige mennesker som gjerne vil faa slaa der, – isaa-
fald maa dù ikke være afhængig af Zakkarias eller mig,
men dù bör da forlange af vedkommende, at de gjödsler
ligesaa meget og helst mere end paa anden dyrket mark;
thi skal man "slaa" der uden at gjödsle, bliver jorden endnù
magrere, end den er paa forhaand, – og det var da bedre,
om jorden laa helt öde, thi da gjödsler den sig lidt selv
af det nedfaldende græs – ja selv om den "opbeites" af fremme-
de dyr blir den dog gjödslet lidt af de samme dyr, saa den
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6. altsaa ikke blir helt död for bakterier; – jord, som
er "bakteriedöd", – kan man gjödsle i aarevis, förend
den giver nogen avling, – jeg tror Zakris har tilbragt
din jord en del bakterierliv allerede, og det vilde
da være skadeligt, om den nù skulde "komme ùd
af hænd" igjen med det samme kultiveringen skulde
begynde at lönne sig. Men selvfölgelig finder
baade Zakris og jeg, at dù nù trænger noget vederlag
for brugen af jorden, og vi har da tænkt paa at faa
fat i nogen rigtig "tidlige" poteter, som dù eller dine
kùnde brùge, medens dere var her, – ja ogsaa tage
med en del til byen af. – Nù tænkte vi os muligheden
af, at dù kanske kùnde faa billig "ùdsæd" i Bergen,
(udsæd er jo altid dyr). – Jeg kan faa tag i den saa-
kaldte "Seks ùgers potet" for ca. 5 Kr. or. 10 kg. + fragt.
Det er jo en meget velsmagende potet, men trænger nok
mere end seks ùger her i Jölster (jeg tænker nok lidt mere
alle steders ellers og), – den bùrde være indsat til "groing"
nù snart. Jeg kan som sagt faa garanterede sættepoteter
af denne sort, men det er jo noget dyrt, – kan dù faa
dem billigere? – eller en anden tidlig og god sort? –
De omtalte poteter er hvite næsten ùden "indsök" for "öinene"
og har violette blomster. – Saa er der en anden sort,
der dog er senere, – den heder "Mariùs" – ogsaa meget velsma-
gende – lyseröd med violette blomster – den passer ùdmærket
for jorden her paa Stranden ("tùng jords-potet") men giver ikke
saa stor avling og passer kan hænde ikke paa din jord, som
er vel meget "let-jord"; jeg kan faa sædpoteter af denne
for 4,00 kr. pr. 10 kg. + fragt (begge to sorter fra en avlstation paa Jæder-
en
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6. Vi kan nok faa billigere sædpoteter her, men man
resikerer da at faa "blandinger"; – landbrùgskolerne her
"fordriver" ogsaa sine poteter med kùnstgjödsel for at
faa store avlinger, – de blir da let "degenererede". ___
7. Kan dù fra en eller anden fabrik skaffe mig nogle
"tomtùber"? – den tryksværten, som dù skaffede mig
i fjor vil stadig "störkne" med en (stenkùlagtig) glasagtig skorpe som
da blander sig ind i farven og afstedkommer ùlykker
under trykningen, – skal jeg da stadig skjære et tykt
lag af ovenpaa den ùgjevne flade, som danner sig, saa
gaar der en masse sværte spildt, – jeg tænkte derfor paa
at faa den overfört paa tùber, förend den helt blir blandet
med slige "<stenkulssjall>".______________________
8. Nogle filer av forskjellig störrelse – til sagblad og til at
file nökler med – ùngene kaster væk alle nökler her.__
9. Et dusin lakstænger til forsegling af breve og pakker
10. nogle æsker tegnestifter (uden hùl i (ikke slike: illustrasjon)
11. nogle lövsagblad til Arnold – vi talte om det i fjor.
12. 3 læster af samme sort, som dù skaffede mig for et
par aar siden, – alle her omkring vil kjöbe dem af
mig, og da jeg nægter, maa de gaa paa laan, saa de snart
blir ùdslidte, – jeg har lovet at skaffe Nr. 27–28–29___
13. Et par stykker barbersæbe – ùden hylse, (dem har jeg nok af)
14. Et dùsin tùber "Syndetikon" – ikke det elendige stof som
kaldes "Klæbekùm" og som jeg fik 12 tuber af, da jeg forlangte Syndetikon
hos apotekeren Rùud – det er et aldeles ubrugeligt stof
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15. Vil dù være saa venlig at gaa indom farvehandler
Nilsen, – eller hvem det var dernede paa Strandgaden
(barakke) og faa alle de tùber, han har af lack-grönt
Jeg har brugt op til træsnit alle de jeg kjöbte i fjor___
16. Santidig kùnde dù kanske faa mig nogle pensler
til at tegne tynde streger med – haarpensler – ikke
for tynde.
17. Kùnde dù faa tak i et par gùmmisko af den
sort, som grubearbeiderne og til dels "veislùsken"
samt tùnnelarbeiderne brùker – ùden hæler og
soler – af graat gùmmi helt – ca. 30 cm. lange (eller vel det – 32 –(30 indvendig)
helst saa vide og rùmmelige som mùligt?
Jeg har et par gùmmistövler, som fuldstændig "imiterer" lære
med dùrable sòler og hæler, som er jernbeslaaede og
meget solide, – men hvad hjælper det, naar gùmmien
paa "overlæderet" er saa tynd, at den lækker allevegne
efter en tids brug – akkùrat som galoger. –________
Ja nù har jeg plaget dig med meget – det meste haster
det jo ikke med; – en beskjed fra dig om sættepoteterne
var jo bra snart at faa, – ligeledes glasskaalen og nogle
stubber Zink at pröve sig paa – (gjerne tynde plater).
Jeg skal nù atter tage fat paa trykken af rævebjælderne til Kreyb.
Jeg skal underrette dig efterhvert, som det skrider frem med
indretningen af dit hùs. Med bedste hilsen til Eder
alle fra alle her din hengivne Astrup
P.S. Birken paa dit hùstak er blaast ned – men jeg skal faa en ny op.
Translation
Dear Kramer
I am sending today the 4 discussed woodcuts of “marigold
night”, – and 2 of “spring night and willow” in black
and white, – the latter I am not totally satisfied
with – I have recut the blocks a little, – but I will
make new better ones if desired, – but I was so exhausted now
after the exertion with these marigold pictures, that I was
unable to do any more, – it will probably take years before
I can stand to print another marigold picture, – that is how tired I am
of them; – the poor quality of the paper also played a role, – I
tried to vary them a little so as not to become too
bored with the motif, – you know I had to make 5 versions
of them for Meyer before he found a painting of the mo-
tif, that was worthy of his collection (he did keep 2 of them
for the collection, – but now none of these are in the collection
despite all my efforts with them back then; – the various
“trial prints”, – that is the ones he did not choose for his gallery,
– he got for a pittance). I have tried to remember
these various pictures during the printing now
and have made my best effort, – but difficul-
ties with the paper have had an affect on the result. –
The one I like best is the one with the “lead-grey” sky.
If You could send me a few kroner straightaway, I would
be most grateful to you, as I have been penniless
for nearly a month and have had to borrow from my
friends here continuously – and have more forfeitures pending.
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I have long ago reminded your workmen about the job –
(I have become more or less “reconciled” with Knùt Pedersen,
but Aasen refuses to do anything more with my studio)
However they have for nearly a fortnight now worked out at
“Nesset”, – they have brought the glass panes and putty out there, that you
sent. I asked Them, if they believed they could get
the house done based on the agreement – by Easter, – to that
Aasen replied, that Kramer had said, that if only they finished
by the summer holiday, – then he would be satisfied – . I thought
to myself; that could have been a rather “vague” term, and
feel therefore that you should specify a definitive date, –
“summer holiday” can in fact be interpreted very differently here, – as some
teachers are finished early with their “teaching weeks” – others
late; – (I once taught for Fond for a few weeks, when
he was behind with so many teaching weeks,
that he did not take his “holiday” until sometime in August).
I hear from Bertel Nybö that Hjördis will be confirmed in the
spring, – Kari has “applied” to be confirmed
now, – she is too young, – but feels she will be too old to
do it later. Eikaas is tutoring her in the evenings so
that she can be finished with school earlier.
Engel asks me to send her greetings to Mrs. Aagot and thank her
profusely for the clothes, that she has sent to the younger
children. – Accept also my sincerest thanks! –
Engel is still sick, – but is too impatient to
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remain in bed – is constantly getting up now – and has become worse – the “knùdero-
en” continues to spread, – but she does not feel sick,
she says; – the rheumatic fever – she apparently feels now and
then in her joints; – she has asked me to write to you
to ask, whether you might be so kind as to speak on her behalf
with a specialist in “rheumatic fever and ‘knuderos’ disease”
and ask for his advice; – our doctor: – Bydal – almost never says
anything only commands her to stay in bed, – and
she is displeased with that. “Besta” is still bedridden. –––
The consultation with the specialist – you can deduct from
what you get for the woodcuts, – the same goes for any other errands, I have
thought of bothering you with. –––
I have just now got the postmaster in Förde to write
directly to Japan for me to order Japanese paper, –
as soon as I have received it, I will print “Bright night in June”,
for you, – it never becomes quite good enough on ordin-
ary paper, – the same applied to the Milling weather,. –––
Well here I come with the errands: if am I being too
much of a bother please say so and “delay” the most difficult until
later:
1. some sandpaper (different grades to polish the blocks, which
(are rather worn and scratched – from constant <realigning>
2. Thick 3 sheets linoleum (packaged flat) circa 50x70cm I find the
new “German” type, which you wrote about, to have too small a format)
3. A glass dish ca. 20x30 cm. – intend to try my hand at the
venerable art of etching – can you obtain some zinc plates for me? The dish
you can probably obtain from Wernöe Gulbrandsen or Nerlien.
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4. These “MATADOR” lamp burners of ours are continuously
malfunctioning , – I have an old burner which I used
before as a work lamp, – could you get hold of a glass shade and “wick”
for it? – I will send the burner in a separate package
5. I have ordered a new boat for myself for the summer, – but this
miserable boathouse is worthless for boats, – have
therefore thought of obtaining some “pulleys” or “blocks”, so
that I might lift it up, when the tide is high, – I saw
a whole score of old blocks in Anda – some of them even
unused – could you get some fairly cheaply – you were
so good at haggling there I recall, – I would like to have
a couple in the house as well and a couple to hoist up sacks from
the road up to the farm, etc. ––– _____________________
6. Seed potatoes – Well this actually concerns you – we
would like to plant some potatoes for you out at Neset –
Zakkarias transports manure out to Nesset daily and
is therefore certain that he will “reap” at your place this year as well,
it is good for the barren soil to be “upgraded”, – but you
may have had an offer from Knùt Pedersen or other
envious people who would love to reap there, – in that
case you won’t have to be dependent on Zakkarias or me,
but then you should demand of the relevant person, that he fertilise
just as much and preferably more than in a cultivated field;
because if one “reaps” without fertilising, the soil becomes even
more barren, than it is to begin with, – and then it would be better,
if the earth was left fallow, because then it fertilises itself a little
from the dead grass – well even if it is “grazed” by va-
grant animals it would be fertilized by these same animals, so in
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6. other words it won’t be totally devoid of microorganisms; – soil, which
is “sterile”, – one might fertilise for years, before
it produces any crops, – I believe Zakris has already added
a good amount of organic life to your soil , and it would
thus be harmful, if it should now “get out
of hand” again now that its cultivation
begins to pay off. But of course both
Zakris and I now understand, that you require remuneration
for the use of the field, and we have thus thought of
getting hold of some very “early” potatoes, which you or your family
could use, when you are here, – well even bring
some with you back to the city. – We also thought of the likelihood
that you might be able to get hold of cheap “seed potatoes” in Bergen,
(seed potatoes are actually always expensive). – I can get hold of the so-
called “Six week potato” for approx. 5 kr. for 10 kg. + transport.
It is a very tasty potato, but most likely requires
more than six weeks here in Jölster (probably a little more
everywhere else as well I imagine), – it should be placed indoors for “sprouting”
soon. I can as I said obtain guaranteed seed potatoes
of this type, but they are a bit expensive, – can you get
them cheaper? – or another early and good type? –
The said potatoes are white almost without “hollows” for “the eyes”
and have violet flowers. – Then there is a different type,
though it matures later, – it’s called “Mariùs” – also very tas-
ty – pink with violet flowers – it is perfectly suited
for the soil here in Stranden (“heavy-soil potatoe”) but does not
produce such a large crop and may not suit your soil, which
is a very “light soil”; I can obtain seed potatoes of this
type for 4.00 kr. per 10 kg. + transport (both types are from a breeding centre in Jæder-
en
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6. We can probably obtain cheaper seed potatoes here, but one
then risks getting “a mixture”; – the agriculture schools here
also “press” their potatoes with artificial fertiliser in order to
obtain large crops, – but then they “deteriorate” easily. ___
7. Can you obtain some “empty tubes” for me from
some factory? – the printing ink, which you obtained for me
last year has the habit of “congealing” with a (coal-like) glass-like crust which
then becomes mixed with the ink and causes disasters
during the printing, – if I must continuously cut a thick
layer off the top of the uneven surface, which has formed, then
a great deal of ink becomes wasted, – I therefore thought of
having it transferred to tubes, before it becomes mixed
with such a “<coal-like crust>”.______________________
8. A few files in different sizes – for a saw blade and to
file keys with – the children discard all the keys here.__
9. A dozen lacquer wax sticks for sealing letters and packages
10. a few boxes of tacks (without holes (not like these: illustration)
11. some fret saw blades for Arnold – we spoke about them last year.
12. 3 lasts of the same type, that you obtained for me a
couple of years ago, – everyone around here wants to buy them from
me, and when I refuse, then they have to be loaned out, so they soon
become worn, – I have promised to obtain Sizes 27–28–29___
13. A couple of bars of shaving soap – without sheaths, (those I have enough of)
14. A dozen tubes of “Syndetikon ” – not that horrible stuff that’s
called “Klæbekùm” and which I got 12 tubes of, when I demanded Syndetikon
from the pharmacist Ruud – it is an entirely useless substance
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15. Would you be so kind as to stop by the paint shop
Nilsen, – or whoever it was down there in Strandgaden
(a barrack) and obtain every tube he has of lacquer green
I have used up all the ones I bought last year for woodcuts ___
16. Could you perhaps at the same time buy me some brushes
for drawing thin lines with – animal hair brushes – not
too thin.
17. Could you get hold of a couple of rubber shoes of the
variety, that miners and sometimes an “itinerant worker”
and tunnel workmen use – without heels or
soles – made completely of grey rubber – approx. 30 cm. long (or more – 32 –(30 on the inside)
preferably as wide and spacious as possible?
I have a pair of rubber boots, which completely “imitate” leather
with durable soles and heels, that have metal taps and
are very sturdy, – but what good is that, when the rubber
on the “leather upper” is so thin, that it leaks everywhere
after a period of use – just like galoshes. –________
Well now I have bothered you with many things – most of it
is not urgent; – a message from you concerning the seed potatoes
would be nice to get soon, – likewise the glass dish and some
remainders of zinc to practice on – (preferably thin sheets).
I will now set to work again on the print of Foxgloves for Kreyb.
I will keep you informed as the work on
the interior of your house develops. With best wishes to You
all from everyone here your devoted Astrup
P.S. The birch on your roof has blown away – but I will set up a new one.