^{Barren Mountain and self-portrait 2 I do not think are so good that I wished to send them.}

^{Will carve a few over again and then send some to You. Do You and Your daughter}

^{like March Atmosphere and the old male nude? In that case I will send You these.}

You were so kind as to sell for me had been in my

exhibition in Kristiania, which Thùnold well knows, besides he <ad-

mired> it in front of me – but perhaps he expressed something

else, when he spoke with others. There is a clique in Bergen

who do not suffer lightly my friendship with You – they have

said bad things about You to me and have most likely said some-

thing similar about me to You. I can smell the fuse immediately – it

was the most bitter envy – because You have helped me so

much. I am thinking about Thùnold’s talk – he cannot have

meant the woodcuts, – they have been exhibited before one

single one was sold; – besides he was very enthusiastic about them

and was able to select a whole series; – (the series that Krantz had

burned with two of my pictures – one of which had not been

exhibited). Krantz received ^{4–5 years ago} permission to sell them in the same way

as Korsvold, but preferred to keep them himself – and as You

have heard, a fire broke out in his place in Damsgaard – Perhaps Thùn-

old has in mind these ²pictures when spreading his gossip; – that they were so

terribly inferior, is disproven by the circumstance, that Krantz might well have

“exchanged them for money”, but preferred to have them on his own wall

despite considerable poverty. I received a letter yesterday from Korsvold, he

wants to purchase woodcuts by me, had spoken with You – I will have to

make a series for him in due time, – Now I don’t have the strength, – I will not

take an öre from him, – he has it bad enough; and so he wanted

get hold of paints for me through Stensaker (a common friend) but I would

prefer to try and manage on my own without his help, the friendship and acquain-

tanceship is too new – I first got to know him ^Stensakerjust this spring. I

have begun to be distrustful of friends. Korsvold I am nevertheless

still somewhat trustful of – at least I would like to be. Soon I will have

no one else left but You, towards whom I am a continuous nuisance. And so again

thank you. Very best wishes from Engel and Your devoted N. Astrup

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