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Letter to Charles Morice, July 1901


With woodcut of Gauguin's monogram in a decorative motif on page one
Paul Gauguin (French, 1848–1903)
1901

Medium/Technique Manuscript letter on commercial graph paper (papier quadrillé), with woodcut printed in black
Dimensions Each sheet: 22.7 x 17.6 cm (8 15/16 x 6 15/16 in.)
Credit Line Anonymous gift
Accession Number58.594
NOT ON VIEW
ClassificationsPrints

DescriptionOne letter consisting of six pages written on three sheets of dark cream, wove, squared (graph) paper with a woodcut monogram on page 1. The text concerns the Museum's painting, Where Do We Come From (D'ou venons nous, 36.270). Written by Paul Gauguin to Charles Morice, July, 1901. Letter written in pen and black ink, on one folded and one single sheet of squared paper (now separaged). On page 6 the second of two postscripts is in purple ink. The continuous text shows that sheet 1 recto = page 1; sheet 1 verso = page 4. Sheet 2 recto = page 2; sheet 2 verso = page 3. Sheet 3 recto = page 6; sheet 3 verso = page 5. Page 4 contains a diagram of the MFA painting with Gauguin's analysis of its meaning.
ProvenancePrivate collection, Boston; gift to MFA 5 June 1958.