André HAMBOURG – Beautiful letter illustrated with a wash drawing depicting Venice.

André HAMBURG (1909.1999)

Signed autograph letter.

Four pages in-4°.

Venice. February 28, 1958

"I think I've done a good job... especially with two large snow paintings..."

A beautiful letter from the French painter, illustrated at the top with an ink wash depicting boats and gondolas sailing in front of the Basilica of San Giorgio Maggiore. Hamburg, passionate about Venice and his work, must soon return to Paris for a broadcast with his colleagues André Lhote, Foujita, and Isis Kischka. He is also concerned about the collection of his clients, the Krafft couple.

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My dearest Jane, Since my arrival, I've wanted to write to you (that is, for the past eight days), but you can imagine my Venetian schedule. Wake-up at 7 a.m., work until nightfall, with an hour's break for lunch… and the nagging guilt of not being able to work more. So, in the evening, after cleaning my equipment and my character, I'm tired enough to postpone my two yogurts (my evening meal), my correspondence… but then I put it off until tomorrow!

I was lucky the whole time: fog on arrival, then snow (apparently it only happens once every five years), sun, and rain. Cold too, which was less fun. Not a single tourist when I arrived, Venice and my hotel all to myself. The hotel owner set up a workshop for me in the room next to mine… and during the snowstorm, I slept in a third, better-heated room! I think I did a good job… especially on two large snow paintings (2.40F) and quite a few smaller ones, all to be finished when I get back to Paris… while waiting to return here around April 20th. For now, I already have to think about the return trip in five days, because I need to be in Paris Tuesday morning for a very official lunch and a TV appearance with Lhote, Foujita, and, of course, Kischka . He must have written to you to tell you about the success of his paintings at Mrs. Krafft's; Nicole must have mentioned it to you. Everyone is happy, and that's the main thing.

They're waiting for my return to sort everything out with Mr. Krafft, who preferred to wait a few days (because of the stock market) on this matter. It's not very reassuring, but I'm in Venice and don't want to think about anything else, except when I read yesterday's France Soir! As soon as I get back to Paris, and after I've seen the K.s, I'll write to you immediately and tell you how things are going on their walls! I think they were pleased with their new canvases (the flowers of Isis [Kischka], and mine too). I did 500 for them in total, telling Mrs. K. that I would have charged 400 for others, for the portrait, and that the flowers would have been 180,000 […]

After seeing the paintings in their living room for the first ^time , I suggested to Mrs. K. that she hang only floral paintings on the living room walls, keeping my "tuna boats" on the piano. I think this would look very nice. It would mean putting the two small Smith paintings (too small for the large living room) in MK's office and leaving room for several very small floral prints […]