Letter

Astrup, Nikolai to Kramer, Per
1925

Transcription:

Tor Martin Leknes

Translation:

Francesca Nichols

Page

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Transcription
Translation

Letter

Astrup, Nikolai to Kramer, Per
1925
ubb-ms-1808-l-3, MARCUS – Spesialsamlingene ved Universitetsbiblioteket i Bergen

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.

2

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.

2

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

3

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. 

4

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

5

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

6

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

7

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.