Bertrand CANTAT, convicted of homicide, quotes Éluard from his prison cell.

Bertrand CANTAT (1964-)

Autographed letter signed.

One large octavo page (20.80 x 14.80). Envelope.

Vilnius Prison. May 4, 2004.

Rare letter from the French artist, imprisoned in Vilnius prison after his homicide of Marie Trintignant on July 23, 2003. Cantat, despite his situation, comforts a young woman filled with suffering who has just lost her husband and copies for her a poem of hope by Paul Éluard, La Nuit n'est jamais complète.

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Nathalie, I received your letter. It reflects all that suffering, which I unfortunately know all too well, even though, as you say, it's immeasurable because it's beyond measure. I wish you strength to find light and joy in life again, despite everything, despite what we know is lost forever, despite the intensity of the pain.

I'm adding this little poem by Eluard that someone sent me, that the strength to resist flows on despite everything, for children and beyond. Yours. Bertrand CANTAT.

The night is never complete.

There is always, since I say so,

Since I state this,

At the end of sorrow, an open window

a lit window.

There is always a dream that watches over us,

A desire to be fulfilled, a hunger to be satisfied

A generous heart,

An outstretched hand, an open hand,

attentive eyes,

One life: a life to be shared.

Eluard.

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Bertrand Cantat was tried from March 16 to 29, 2004, in Vilnius, and sentenced to eight years in prison for murder. Transferred to the Muret detention center (in Haute-Garonne) in September 2004, he was granted parole in October 2007 and released on October 16, 2007, after three and a half years of detention.

It should be noted that the letter was posted from Bordeaux, most likely by Krisztina Rady, Cantat's wife, after a visit to Vilnius.