Pissarro in Monet: exhibition project between artists

In this letter, Camille Pissarro informs Claude Monet of the ongoing discussions on an exhibition project. After a visit to Mary Cassatt, he explained that their first discussions had focused on this issue and suggested that an agreement be envisaged between several artists, including Degas, Caillebotte, Guillaumin, Berthe Morisot, Cassatt and a few others. Pissarro insists on one essential point: the exhibition should not be organised by the "Durand element" alone, but should be clearly identified by the artists themselves. He finally asked Monet to write to him quickly in Paris before his departure scheduled for the following Wednesday.

Sender

Camille Pissarro

Recipient

Claude Monet

Place sent

Paris

Original language

French

Transcription

Paris, 7 December 1885.

My dear Monet,

We've been talking a lot about exhibition for some time, on all sides we're talking about it.

I went on a visit to Miss Cassatt, long ago I promised to go to her, but I couldn't find the time. Stuck here without a penny to go to Eragny, I was able to go aside and another.

The first words exchanged were to talk about the exhibition. Could we not agree on this?

We, Degas, Caillebotte, Guillaumin, Mrs Berthe Morizot, Miss Cassatt and two or three others would be an excellent element of exhibition, the difficult thing would be to hear, I believe, that in principle it should not be done to us alone (that is, the Durand element) that the exhibition should have the initiative of the artists themselves and above all clearly prove it through composition. What do you say?

Write to me in Paris, because I intend to leave Wednesday if possible. Let me get your letter Wednesday morning.

Your devoted good.

C. Pissarro.

Rue des Petites-Écuries, 41.

Editorial note

Transcript based on two printed reproductions of a published letter. Word cuts due to end of line and page change have been restored for continuous reading. Spelling and punctuation have been kept as far as possible. The place of destination does not appear in the photographed extract. The form "Mme Berthe Morizot" reproduces the image visible on the printed image; It most likely corresponds to Berthe Morisot.