The Last Letter
One of the last things he left behind was a letter that never arrived. This timeline begins with that letter, and ends with it too.
No painting at this knot — only a letter.
On 27 July he went out to the fields, came back in the afternoon, told the innkeeper's daughter that his stomach hurt, and went upstairs. Theo, hearing the news, hurried to his side.
He carried on him a draft of a letter to Theo, unsent. A few lines spoke of painting, of their relationship, and let through the pressure between his work, his money, and this bond between brothers. It was a draft worked over and over, kept by him in the end and never sent.
This is the last node of the timeline, and also the starting point of another way of reading: all those paintings, letters, nodes — looked back at from this unsent letter, everything is an echo the letter once sent out. Coming in from any node, it is like this.
Events
- Synaesthetic Precision · Letter 898
Wrote the last letter sent to Theo. 'They are vast stretches of wheat under troubled skies, and I did not need to go out of my way to try to express sadness and extreme loneliness.'
- Synaesthetic Precision · Letter 902
Another letter remained in his pocket, never sent. 'My own work, I am risking my life for it and my reason has half foundered.' 'There are many things I would like to write to you about but I feel the uselessness of it.'
- Synaesthetic Precision
Returned to the Ravoux Inn that afternoon, wounded. The Ravoux family called for Doctor Gachet. Gachet sent word to Theo
- Synaesthetic Precision
Early morning, 29 July 1890. Theo at his bedside. Vincent died, aged 37. This node has no painting — only an unsent letter and a stretch of white space
From the Letters
Eh bien, mon travail à moi, j'y risque ma vie et ma raison y a fondré à moitié. Well, my own work, I am risking my life for it and my reason has half foundered.
Il y a bien des choses que je voudrais t'écrire mais j'en sens l'inutilité. There are many things I would like to write to you about but I feel the uselessness of it.
Letter Sources
Van Gogh letter records referenced on this page, linked to the Van Gogh Letters Project. vangoghletters.org