Letter T30 1 Paris, 29 March 1890
Dear Vincent,
Among all the letters from brothers and sisters which you will receive tomorrow, mine may not be wanting to wish you the best of luck, which I do at the same time on behalf of your little namesake, who cannot do so very well for himself as yet. What he does do is look at Uncle Vincent’s pictures with a good deal of interest �the tree in blossom especially [F 671, JH 1891], which is hanging over his bed, seems to enthrall him �and further the Rembrandt,
although I cannot assert confidently that it is not the gilt frame which attracts him in the latter case. I am happy to say he is growing well, and we long to show him to you. But being a father and a mother is quite an art �perhaps because I had to learn to get used to so many things in the course of that one year �for I never heard other people speak of it in the same way �they had a baby and then everything was all right and things straightened themselves out of their own accord �but it’s not like that at all with me. What amazes me most is that such a little child has so much of a personality, against which you are utterly powerless. Now and then he looks at me as if he wanted to say,
“What are you doing to me? �I know much more about things than you do.�His are the eyes of an adult and then with a lot of expression. Is it possible that he has the makings of a philosopher?
He does not allow his mother much leisure, but I managed to escape for a little while at the opening of the Independents to see your pictures there �there was a seat directly in front of them, and while Theo was talking to all sorts of people I sat there for a whole fifteen minutes enjoying the delicious coolness and freshness of the “Undergrowth�[F 609, JH 1693] �it’s as though I knew this spot, and had been there several times �I’m so fond of it.
Here is the height of summer �indescribably hot �and I dread the hot days yet to come. I know it sounds a bit like sacrilege now that there is that fine delicate haze of green all over the trees, but I prefer winter after all. I shall have to close this letter in a hurry, for Theo is waiting for it.
With best wishes,
Affectionately yours, Jo 1. Written in Dutch.