III

chers), – as the frames, that are on the backside

of the pictures are homemade without "steel" or

"wedges"; – they can therefore not be used to tight-

en the pictures, in the event that they should "become slack".

I have thought about sending You the pictures in

a role – simply rolled together, – since it is

easier to obtain stretchers in Bergen – but I

am afraid – the pictures would suffer too much

from it; – but if there is lack of

time, I will send the pictures in a crate on

the improvised stretchers, – but then You must

inform the framer

that ~~the frames~~ ^{the pictures} must be dismantled and mounted

onto new stretchers, which must be ordered

ahead of time, – as the paint shops never deliver

stretchers larger than 1 meter without ordering first.

However pictures often suffer when dismantled from stret-

chers and re-stretched, – an inexperienced man can

easily ruin the pictures during this difficult process

and I therefore hope, that I shall be able to spare You and

the framer all this bother – by having

new stretchers fashioned here, – so that I can

dismantle and stretch the canvases anew myself. With

best wishes from me and my wife Yours sincerely

Nikolai Astrup

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