Letter
8 Pages
Transcription: Tor Martin Leknes
Translation: Francesca Nichols
Transcription
Jeg har modtaget 200 kr., som I har sendt
som postanvisning – er det fra Meyer eller
er det for billeder, som I har solgt for mig?
Modtag min hjærteligste tak i begge til-
fælde. Jeg veed ikke hvorledes det skùlde
gaaet mig de 2 sidste aar, hvis jeg ikke
havde havt Eder til at hjælpe mig.
Jeg bliver Eder meget skyldig, hvorledes
skal jeg kùnne faa betale lidt af paa min
gjæld til Eder – billeder har jeg snart
ikke mange igjen af – 3-4 tager jeg med
mig nù til Bergen – og I skal selvfölgelig
faa vælge – men i længden kan jeg ikke
betale Eder med billeder bare; thi I vilde
da faa for mange Astrupper – nù synes
jeg virkeleg I skùlde tage procenter af de
billeder I sælger for mig; – thi det er jo
rimeligt, at I ogsaa vil have andre kùnst-
nere end Mùnch og mig paa Eders vægge.
Nù har jeg jo de 2 sidste aar ikke solgt bil-
leder ùden gjennem Eder – med ùndtagelse
af Meyer – til hvem jeg jo ogsaa væsentlig
har solgt ved Eders hjælp – det er da höist
rimeligt, at I nù tager procenter af salg
naar I, som I siger, fremdeles vil sælge
billeder for mig. Det var jo storartet for
mig at Meyer vilde kjöbe de 2 billeder. Nù kan
altsaa Engel faa være med mig – bare hùn nù
kùnde blive frisk – har stadig været syg
ùdover hösten – slem hoste – og saa er
der andre omstændigheder, som gjör, at hùn
vistnok ikke kan være med til udlandet;
hùn bliver iallefald med til Bergen, saa faar
jeg raadföre mig med Eder.
Nù har jeg stùderet frem og tilbage paa om
jeg skal udstille i Kjöbenhavn paa gjennem-
reisen – vanskeligheder med ùdlaan af billeder
har der altid været, naar jeg har skùllet
holde en udstilling – og de bliver vel værre
jo flere billeder, jeg faar solgt. Hos et paar
kjöbere f.ex. Dr. Lönnechen (tror jeg det var som
kjöbte "Sommervind ved opgangen til Jölsters præste-
gaard") betingede jeg mig udlaansret, da jeg solgte
billedet for halv pris. Men flere av billederne
veed jeg ikke hvem som kjöbte – jeg fik en
liste hos Skagen i vinter men der manglede
flere af billederne – saaledes veed jeg ikke, hvad
den dame hed som var sammen med Eder
og Henrik Lùnd og som kjöbte "Fra præstegaards-
haven i Jölster" No 36 i katalogen. Hùn var
vistnok fra Kristiania – en vakker dame –
af næsten rùssisk type – sortklæd og vistnok
enke. Billedet solgte jeg for 100 kr. men jeg
havde sikkert forlangt 2-300 hvis billedet
havde været malt paa lærred; – det var nemlig
malt paa pap og lod sig derfor vanskelig indramme
og var kùn stiftet fast paa en simpel list.
Henrik Lùnd sagde, at det var mit mest
koloristiske billede. Saa haaber jeg, at jeg
ved en eventuel udstilling vil faa laane Eders
billeder. Jeg skal her nævne op de billeder som
jeg
kùnde have lyst til at have med. Hvis
jeg ikke gjör Eder formeget bryderi – tùrde jeg
kanske bede Eder være saa elskværdig at telefonere
til de af billedeierne; som I kjender og spörge
om de er villige til ùdlaan.
1 "Fra skyggesiden" (Angaaende Eders forespörgsel om
hvad ramme, Det bùrde have, saa tror
jeg det er rigtigt med en dyb ramme, men
vent med det til billedet har været paa
laan – rammer lider ved ùdlaan.)
4 "Kold vaarnat og hæggetræ" – eier Henrik Lùnd
5 "Prisild" (skisse til St. Hans nat)" " do
6 "Lys Jùninat i Jölster" " Rasmùs Meyer
11 "Vaarnat ved maaneopgang" " do
12 "Vaarnat og seljetræ" " Advokat Knùdsen
13 "Vaarnat i haven (refùseret i Bergen) " Overlærer Höst
14 "Dagbrækning ved Jölsters præstegaard (vùndet af Aalesùnds k.
udloddet af kunstforening
atter ùdloddet???)
15 "Vaarkveld og regnbùe" (er dette billede I har solgt nù?)
18 "Sommernats skumring i haven" " Stiegler
21 "Kold sommernat i fjeldbygden" " (I Kristiania)
22 "Stùdie til "Jonsoknat" " do
23 "Regnstemning ùnder trærne ved Jölsters prst.gd. (Bankf.
24 "Trist graaveirsdag" (udloddet af kùnstforeningen – veed ikke hvor.)
28 "Jùninat og et gammelt vestlandstùn" " Rasmùs Meyer
29 "Raa aprilmorgen med Sneskred" " do
II
No 36. Fra præstegaardshaven i Jölster – eier frù??
No 38. Et Jölstertùn i væde og höstregn " Rasmùs Meyer
No 39 Begravelsesdag i Jölster " Schetelig
No 40. Sommernatsvind i slaattetiden " Frù Henr. Lùnd
No 41 Martzstemning ved Jölstervandet " Advokat Knùdsen
No 42. Portraitstudie af en gammel mand (Er denne stùdie
hos Eder?)
No 43. Halvnögen Kvindestùdie " Rasmùs Meyer
No 45. Sommervind ved Jölsters præstegaard " Dr. Lönnechen??
No 46. Vaarstemning med kveldsol efter ùveir " ???
No 47 Hvidt hùs i skùmring og regn " Rasmùs Meyer
No 48. Et Jölstersagn om vaarnatten " Lillehamar
No 49. Soveværelseinteriör " Far og mor
No 51 Vaarvind ved Jölstervandet " Schetelig
No 52. Fra svanöen " Rasmùs Meyer
No 55 Lys Jùninat " Boghandler Nygaard
No 59. St. Hansnat i Jölster " Frù Vaaler Kristiania
No 60 Vaarregn og kirsebærtræ " Aslaksen Kristiania
No 61 Höstkveld i Haven " Frk. Holm (nù frù Breyholzt)
No 62 Vaarnat i Haven " Overlærer Höst
No 63 Löeinteriör " Kinck
Saa har jeg tænkt at faa laane ud 4 5 bil-
leder i Kristiania af dem, som jeg ikke fig tag i til
Bergensudstillingen f. ex. "Mörkt Solskin" i Fredrikstad
Dette billede anser jeg nemlig selv som mit
bedste billede – bare jeg nù fik laane det –
sidst kosted det mig megen möie og adskillige
ùdgifter – breve telegrammer – leiede folk til
at reise ned og hente det og fik det ikke
alligevel – tiltrods for at det dog fra först af
var lovet mig til laans. Saa har jeg ogsaa
et godt lidet billede i Kristiania hos en
Aslaksen – det er en vaarstemning, som
aldrig har været udstillet – dette tror jeg maa
Her er koldt med rim paa markerne til
langt ud paa dagen.
Og dog længes jeg ikke efter at reise –
jeg er saa nervös om dagene, at jeg tvertimod
grùer mig for reisen, – naar jeg bare kùnde
være paa et rigtig öde sted et par ùger tror
jeg, at jeg skùlde blive fri nervösiteten.
Jeg tror jeg vil leie en sæterhytte og faa
op baaret en del ved og saa ligge der 8 dage
uden at se et menneske – kanske jeg da blev
bedre – noget maa jeg gjöre med den för
jeg reiser – thi nù sovner jeg ikke om nætterne
för det lysner af dag. Naar jeg ùndtager denne
nervösiteten, er jeg saa frisk om dagene, som jeg
ikke har været paa flere aar.
Jeg burde kanske reist lidt för nervositeten
blev saa slem – men jeg var <indstevnet> til
at möde i retten som vidne den 20 de {…}
og maa did i kommende ùge – jeg kùnde
saaledes ikke faae lov at reise för alligevel
Jeg haaber I lever vel hils frk. Inger
Lev vel. Engel beder hilse
Eders hjærteligst
hengivne
Translation
I have received 200 kroner, which You have sent
as a money order – is it from Meyer or
is it for the pictures, that You have sold for me?
Accept my most heartfelt thanks in both
cases. I don’t know how I would have
managed the past 2 years, if I had
not had You to help me.
I am greatly indebted to You, how
can I pay off some of my
debt to You – of pictures I don’t have
many left – I will take 3-4 with
me now to Bergen – and You shall of course
choose among them – but in the long run I cannot
pay You with pictures alone; for then You would
have too many Astrups – now I seriously
think You should take a percentage of the
pictures You sell for me; – for it is
reasonable that You would like to have other art-
ists besides Mùnch and me on Your walls.
In the past 2 years now I have not sold pic-
tures other than through You – with the exception
of Meyer – to whom I have essentially
sold with Your help – it is thus very
reasonable, that You now take a percentage of sales
when You, as You say, wish to continue to sell
pictures for me. It was splendid for
me that Meyer wished to buy 2 pictures. This would mean
that Engel might now come with me – if only she
can recover – has been continuously ill
throughout the fall – a severe cough – and then there
are other circumstances, which may make it difficult
for her to accompany me abroad;
she will in any case come along to Bergen, at which
time I will consult with You.
I have recently considered back and forth whether
I will exhibit in Copenhagen while passing
through – difficulties with loaning pictures
has always been a problem, when I was going
to arrange an exhibition – and it will get worse
the more pictures I sell. With a couple of
buyers for instance Dr. Lönnechen (I believe it was who
bought "Summer wind by the path up to Jölster vica-
rage") I retained the right to loan from, when I sold
the picture at half price. But there are a number of pictures
I don’t know who has bought – I received a
list from Skagen this winter but several
of the pictures are missing – likewise I don’t know what
the lady’s name is who was with You
and Henrik Lùnd and who bought "From the vicarage
garden in Jölster" No 36 in the catalogue. She was
evidently from Kristiania – a beautiful woman –
almost of the Russian type – dressed in black and evidently
a widow. The picture I sold for 100 kroner but I
would surely have demanded 2-300 had the picture
been painted on canvas; – it was
painted on cardboard and was therefore difficult to frame
and was merely stapled to a plain strip of wood.
Henrik Lùnd said that it was my most accomplished
colourist picture. So I hope, that for a
future exhibition I will be able to loan Your
pictures. I will list here the pictures that I
might like to include. If
I am not inconveniencing you too much – dare I
perhaps ask You to be so kind as to telephone
those painting owners; whom You know and ask
them if they are willing to lend them out.
1 "From the Dark Side" (Regarding Your inquiry about
what frame, It should have, I think
it requires a deep frame, but
wait to do it until the picture has been on
loan – frames suffer when loaned out.)
4 "Cold Spring Night and Bird Cherry" – owner Henrik Lùnd
5 "Midsummer Fire" (sketch for Midsummer Night)" " ditto
6 "Bright June Night in Jölster" " Rasmùs Meyer
11 "Spring Night with Moon Rising" " ditto
12 "Spring Night and Sallow" " Solicitor Knùdsen
13 "Spring Night in the Garden (rejected in Bergen) " Headmaster Höst
14 "Daybreak at Jölster’s Vicarage" (won by Aalesùnds k.
at lottery held by the art association
sold again???)
15 "Spring Evening and Rainbow" (is this the picture you have just sold?)
18 "Dusk on a Summer Night in the Garden" " Stiegler
21 "Cold summer Night in Mountain Village" " (In Kristiania)
22 "Study for ‘Midsummer Eve’" " ditto
23 "Rainy Atmosphere beneath the Trees at Jölster Vicarage" (Bank teller O. Larsen)
24 "Dismal grey weather day" (sold at lottery by the art association – location unknown.)
28 "A Night in June and Old Country Farmstead" " Rasmùs Meyer
29 "Raw Morning in April with Avalanche" " ditto
II
No 36. From the Vicarage Garden in Jölster – owner Mrs. ??
No 38. A Jölster Farmstead in Wet Autumn Rain " Rasmùs Meyer
No 39 Funeral Day in Jölster " Schetelig
No 40. Wind on Summer Night during Haymaking Season " Mrs. Henr. Lùnd
No 41 March Atmopshere at Lake Jölstervandet " Solicitor Knùdsen
No 42. Portrait Study of an Old Man (Is this study
in Your care?)
No 43. Semi-naked Female Study " Rasmùs Meyer
No 45. Summer Wind at Jölster Vicarage " Dr. Lönnechen??
No 46. Spring Atmosphere with Evening Sun after a Storm " ???
No 47 White house at Dusk in Rain " Rasmùs Meyer
No 48. A Jölster Spring Night Legend " Lillehamar
No 49. Bedroom Interior " Father and mother
No 51 Spring Wind at Lake Jölstervandet " Schetelig
No 52. View from Svanöen " Rasmùs Meyer
No 55 Bright June Night " Bookseller Nygaard
No 59. Midsummer Eve in Jölster " Frù Vaaler Kristiania
No 60 Spring Rain and Cherry Tree " Aslaksen Kristiania
No 61 Autumn Evening in the Garden " Miss. Holm (now Mrs. Breyholzt)
No 62 Spring Night in the Garden " Headmaster Höst
No 63 Barn Interior " Kinck
In addition I have planned to loan 4 5 pic-
tures in Kristiania from those, whom I didn’t reach in time for the
Bergen exhibition for instance "Dark Sunshine" in Fredrikstad
best picture – if only I am able to loan it –
the last time it cost me great trouble and considerable
expenditure – letters telegrams – hired folk
to travel down to fetch it but didn’t get it
in the end – despite the fact that it was promised
to me to loan from the start. I also have
a good little picture in Kristiania with a man named
Aslaksen – it is a spring atmosphere, which
has never been shown – I think it must
Here it is cold with hoarfrost in the fields until
far into the afternoon.
And yet I do not long to travel –
I am so anxious these days, that on the contrary I
dread to make the trip, – if I could only
stay in a very isolated place for a few days I
think, that I could be free of the anxiety.
I think I will rent a mountain cabin and have
some wood transported up there and stay there for 8 days
without seeing a soul – perhaps I would then get
better – I have to do something about it before
I travel – for I do not sleep at night
until the day dawns. When I am relieved of this
nervousness, I am as well these days, as I
haven’t been in many years.
Perhaps I should have travelled a little before the nervousness
became so severe – but I was <summoned> to
appear in court as a witness on the 20 th {…}
and must go there next week – I was
therefore not allowed to travel earlier just the same
I hope you are well say hello to Miss Inger
Live well. Engel sends her greetings
Your most sincerely
devoted