VAN DONGEN KEES: (1877-1968) Dutch Painter, a member of the Fauves. A curious and fine A.L.S. ...

VAN DONGEN KEES: (1877-1968) Dutch Painter, a member of the Fauves. A curious and fine A.L.S., `Kiki´, two pages, 8.5 x 11, Naples, Wednesday morning, n.d., on his printed heading of 5 rue Juliette Lambert, to his wife, in French. Van Dogen reports how are his recent days in Naples, stating `Réveillé par le commandement. Hotel Santa Lucia. Naples. Ben mon vieux c´est du Madame à la Jamaique, J´écoute et j´obéis. Donc (je dors encore un peu et le plombier est entrain de m´arranger un robinet pour que j´ai de l´eau chaude dans mon petit fourbi) il ne se pase rien ici sinon qu´il fait un froid de canard presque froid à allumer le feu´ (Translation: “Awakened by the commandment. Hotel Santa Lucia. Naples. Well, my old man, this is like a Madame in Jamaica. I listen and I obey. So (I'm still sleeping a little and the plumber is fixing a tap for me so that I have hot water in my little closet) nothing is happening here except that it's freezing cold, almost cold. to light the fire”) Van Dongen further refers to his work as writer, referring to his work on Rembrandt, and states `De froid, d´ennui et de tristesse je travaille mais le coeur n´y est pas… je travaille à ce Rembrandt, mais plus j´avance plus cela me paraît bête, je fais aussi de la peinture, c´est moins bête…´ (Translation: “With cold, boredom and sadness I work but my heart is not in it... I work on this Rembrandt, but the more I advance the more stupid it seems to me, I also paint, it's less stupid…”) Further again and before concluding, Van Dongen says `Je mange bien à la maison et je dors comme un ange. Je t´embrasse et je vais engueuler… qui ne m´a pas encore livré mes cadres…´ (Translation: “I eat well at home and I sleep like an angel. I kiss you and I am going to yell… who has not delivered my paintings yet to me…”) VG

Kees Van Dongen wrote Rembrandt, based on Rembrandt´s life, which was published in 1943.