1. This was letter 901.

2. On 25 July 1890, Theo wrote to Jo about this letter: ‘There was a letter from Vincent which again I find incomprehensible. We’ve not fallen out, either with him or with each other. He wasn’t even aware that Dries had refused to enter into a joint venture. His letter included a couple of sketches of paintings he’s working on, which look very nice. If only he could find someone to buy a couple from him, but I’m afraid this could still take a very long time. But one cannot drop him when he’s working so hard and so well. When will a happy time come for him? He’s so thoroughly good and helped me so much to keep going.’ Jo answered on 26 July: ‘What might be the matter with Vincent? Did we go too far the day he came? My dearest, I have firmly resolved never to squabble with you again – and always do what you wish’ (FR b2063 and b4241; Brief happiness 1999, pp. 261-264).

3. Theo’s employers at Boussod, Valadon & Cie.

4. During his visit to Theo and Jo (see letter 898), Vincent had apparently insisted on speaking French instead of Dutch, and this idea must have met with resistance from Jo and Andries.

5. This refers to Jo and Annie (Andries’s wife).

6. It cannot be ascertained which ‘Gauguin from Brittany’ Vincent is referring to here. Theo had various works of his on consignment which Vincent could have seen during his visit to Paris. See letters 799 and 813.

7. Vincent means that Theo will one day see the painting after which the letter sketch F - / JH 2106 was made. Van Gogh painted two large canvases of Daubigny’s garden: Daubigny’s garden (F 776 / JH 2104 ) and Daubigny’s garden (F 777 / JH 2105 ). In letter 898 he mentioned the first version of the painting, F 777 / JH 2105 . The letter sketch in the present letter was made after Daubigny’s garden (F 776 / JH 2104 ), as is clear from the dots used to indicate the path in the lower left corner and the diagonal lines on the roof of the church at top right. The sketch is more elongated than the painting, which accounts for some differences in the composition. The black cat was painted out later.

8. The letter sketch Thatched cottages and figures (F - / JH 2116) was made after the painting of the same name (F 780 / JH 2115 ).

9. The letter sketch Wheatfields (F - / JH 2100) was made after the painting of the same name F 782 / JH 2099 . Wheatfields (F - / JH 2103) was made after the painting of the same name F 781 / JH 2102 .

10. The paint orders for Hirschig and Vincent (l. 67) have not been preserved.

11. These works by Hirschig are not known.

12. For the paintings by Arnold Koning in Theo’s collection, see letter 666, n. 9.

13. In mid-May, meaning the time when Vincent was in Paris, H.G. Tersteeg had sent Theo on consignment a watercolour by Jan Voerman Sr. It is not known which watercolour, however. See Anna Wagner, Jan Voerman. IJsselschilder. Zwolle 1991, p. 54.