609 (611, 487): To Theo van Gogh. Arles, Saturday, 12 May 1888.

609

Br. 1990: 611 | CL: 487
From: Vincent van Gogh
To: Theo van Gogh
Date: Arles, Saturday, 12 May 1888
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1. In 1888 there were two justices of the peace in Arles, one for the western canton and one for the eastern canton. Since Hotel Carrel was on the east side of the town, Van Gogh and the hotel-keeper would have taken their dispute to the justice for the eastern canton. This was Eugène Giraud, who was open for business from 10.00 a.m. on Saturday mornings (L’indicateur marseillais 1888).

Van Gogh is referring to Alphonse Daudet’s Aventures prodigieuses de Tartarin de Tarascon, in which an Arab Jew with a strong accent cries out: ‘Au zouge de paix! Au zouge de paix!’ See Daudet 1986-1994, vol. 2, p. 537 (3e épisode, chapter 3).

The inhabitants of Tarascon are described in the novel as gullible people with vivid imaginations. Their favourite occupations are hunting – in the absence of game they shoot at their caps – and singing love songs. Because Tartarin excels in both pursuits he is very highly regarded. He likes bragging about his long voyages, but in fact he has never been outside Tarascon. To maintain his reputation he goes to Algeria to hunt lions, has all sorts of adventures, shoots a solitary (tame) lion and is greeted as a hero on his return to Tarascon.

2. This was Restaurant Vénissac on place Lamartine, where Van Gogh ate every day (at least in August and September). It was next door to the Café de la Gare, where he was staying. The owner was the widow Marguerite Vénissac-Canin. See letter 658, n. 10, and letter 691.

3. The study is Farmhouse in a wheatfield (F 408 / JH 1417