Did Van Gogh admire Jean Richepin?

Yes Vincent van Gogh especially enjoyed the book Miarka by the French poet, novelist and dramatist Jean Richepin. So much actually that he wrote Theo the opening and closing lines of the song that Miarka, the central character sings, in memory of Mauve.

Today 134 years ago, on or about 1 April 1888,

Vincent van Gogh wrote to Theo from Arles:

"It seemed to me that in memory of Mauve we needed something that was both tender and very cheerful and not a study in a more serious key than that.

‘Don’t believe that the dead are dead.
While there are people still alive
The dead will live, the dead will live’.

That’s how I feel the thing, no sadder than that. In addition to that I now have another 4 or 5 studies of orchards and I’m going to start a no. 30 canvas of the same subject.”

Orchard with apricot trees in blossom
Arles, 1888
Oil on canvas
55 x 65 cm
Edinburgh, National Galleries of Scotland

You may also like to read:

• Who taught Van Gogh to paint?

Van Gogh's 'Orchard with apricot trees in blossom'

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