Letter from Frances Hodgkins to Arthur Howell
Date
14 Feb 1931
See transcription
Catalogue number
FHL168
Date
14 Feb 1931
Transcript
Hotel Moderne Les Martigues Bouches du Rhone France Feb 14th
Dear Mr Howell
This is where I am – in the self same Hotel with the self same people that I have known for years.
Les Martigues is an old friend of mine. I find fresh things to paint on every visit.
Let me tell you that it is as cold here as in London. Today is a blue day – like a cake of cobalt. I am looking. Tomorrow I will paint.
Mr Augustus John was here until a few days ago.
I stayed in Paris long enough to see some pictures. I saw some immaculate Matisses: a wall of them; each picture was painted with a different palette.
I stayed in Paris long enough to eat a perfect dejeuner chez Prunier oysters, langoustine, foie gras – seated on high stools at a Marble Bar – of Heaven – all very soulful & concentrated.
Afterwards I saw the fag end of a memorial show of Pascin’s work – he who lately killed himself in a manner much more spectacular than did Christopher Wood. A short life and a long death – opening his veins and slowly bleeding to death whilst writing to his wife & friends. He left ½ his pictures to wife and ½ to friend. I met the friend – a most lovely thing and I saw the work of the wife which impressed me more than did the work of her neurasthenic husband. Hermine Davide is her name. It is the sort of style you would like. Watch for it.
Later I saw a very exciting show of Picasso, Braque, Matisse etc & met some exciting looking people – 1 Princess, 1 Ambassador, who being a Diplomat enjoyed talking. I enjoyed listening to him explaining what Picasso really meant. The Princess tapped him on the arm & said “You know an artist never explains”. I murmured that I thought Leger was only an inspired plumber – un plombier inspire – and that mot went round the room – my little moment.
By the way Garnier is going to write & ask Dufy if he will arrange a Water Colour Show with you. Garnier will let you know the result. He was very pleased at you keeping one of his Drawings.
Dufy of course produces masses of work so there is every chance of a Show. Some nasty person called the work “painted riband” which is rubbish. It is slick – but it is not all that slick.
How have the young Moderns taken your present Show. It makes many of them look like a damp squib doesn’t it? We won’t mention names. It should do a lot of good & clear the air – open windows etc. We badly need some of that ringing clarity of colour into our work – plus du lyricisme.
I do hope you & Mr Wilenaki have backed a winner. Between now & the end of the show I hope you will have made some sales & told the world.
Now please don’t bother to answer this. I’ll be sending you something presently in about 2 weeks.
I am writing this in a café with the café pen. Hope you can read it.
Best regards to Miss Harmston from yours very sincerely Frances Hodgkins
I took the liberty of having my letters sent to the gallery for this week – until I was settled. Will Miss Harmston please put them in one envelope & re-direct here.
Dear Mr Howell
This is where I am – in the self same Hotel with the self same people that I have known for years.
Les Martigues is an old friend of mine. I find fresh things to paint on every visit.
Let me tell you that it is as cold here as in London. Today is a blue day – like a cake of cobalt. I am looking. Tomorrow I will paint.
Mr Augustus John was here until a few days ago.
I stayed in Paris long enough to see some pictures. I saw some immaculate Matisses: a wall of them; each picture was painted with a different palette.
I stayed in Paris long enough to eat a perfect dejeuner chez Prunier oysters, langoustine, foie gras – seated on high stools at a Marble Bar – of Heaven – all very soulful & concentrated.
Afterwards I saw the fag end of a memorial show of Pascin’s work – he who lately killed himself in a manner much more spectacular than did Christopher Wood. A short life and a long death – opening his veins and slowly bleeding to death whilst writing to his wife & friends. He left ½ his pictures to wife and ½ to friend. I met the friend – a most lovely thing and I saw the work of the wife which impressed me more than did the work of her neurasthenic husband. Hermine Davide is her name. It is the sort of style you would like. Watch for it.
Later I saw a very exciting show of Picasso, Braque, Matisse etc & met some exciting looking people – 1 Princess, 1 Ambassador, who being a Diplomat enjoyed talking. I enjoyed listening to him explaining what Picasso really meant. The Princess tapped him on the arm & said “You know an artist never explains”. I murmured that I thought Leger was only an inspired plumber – un plombier inspire – and that mot went round the room – my little moment.
By the way Garnier is going to write & ask Dufy if he will arrange a Water Colour Show with you. Garnier will let you know the result. He was very pleased at you keeping one of his Drawings.
Dufy of course produces masses of work so there is every chance of a Show. Some nasty person called the work “painted riband” which is rubbish. It is slick – but it is not all that slick.
How have the young Moderns taken your present Show. It makes many of them look like a damp squib doesn’t it? We won’t mention names. It should do a lot of good & clear the air – open windows etc. We badly need some of that ringing clarity of colour into our work – plus du lyricisme.
I do hope you & Mr Wilenaki have backed a winner. Between now & the end of the show I hope you will have made some sales & told the world.
Now please don’t bother to answer this. I’ll be sending you something presently in about 2 weeks.
I am writing this in a café with the café pen. Hope you can read it.
Best regards to Miss Harmston from yours very sincerely Frances Hodgkins
I took the liberty of having my letters sent to the gallery for this week – until I was settled. Will Miss Harmston please put them in one envelope & re-direct here.
Sender's address
Hotel Moderne - Les Martigues - Bouches du Rhone France
Credit Line
E
H
McCormick
Archive
of
Frances
Hodgkins'
Letters,
E
H
McCormick
Research
Library,
Auckland
Art
Gallery
Toi
o
Tāmaki