Gauguin, Paul

Autograph letter signed ("P. Gauguin"), one page on the letterhead of A. Bourdon | Anc^ne Maison G. Caperon-Tanaÿs (8 x 5 in.; 200 x 125 mm), Paris, 22 February 1879, to Camille Pissarro, about measurements for a frame and reporting that he settled his account with Mme LaTouche (an art dealer) and that she regrets having walked out on Pissarro. Matted, glazed, and framed.

Autograph letter signed ("P. Gaugain"), one page on the letterhead of A. Bourdon | Ancne Maison G. Caperon-Tanaÿs (8 x 5 in.; 200 x 125 mm), Paris, 22 February 1879, to Camille Pissarro, reporting that he settled his account with Mme LaTouche (an art dealer) and that she regrets having walked out on Pissarro. Matted, glazed, and framed.
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The budding artist to his mentor. Gauguin met Pissarro in 1874 at the first Impressionist exhibition. By 1876, Gauguin submits a landscape, Under the Tree Canopy at Viroflay, to the Salon d'Automne. In his spare time, he continues to learn to paint, working evenings with Pissarro at the Académie Colarossi in Paris. On Pissarro's advice, Gauguin also begins to modestly collect art. He buys Impressionist paintings; the first three canvases he purchased were done by his mentor. In this letter Gauguin mentions of clearing his debts with the art dealer  Mme Louis Latouche: "J'ai complètement soldé le compte et elle a été fort surprise. Elle ne voulait même pas d'argent. Je lui ai dis que c'était simplement pour me débarrasser de mes dettes que je la payais."

Pissarro apparently had a falling out with Mme Latouche but Gauguin happily reports that "Elle est tout à fait en train de se repentir de la vilaine sortie qu’elle vous a faite et qu’elle  m’a expliquée naturalement à son avantage, et elle donnerait bien quelque chose pour passer un coup d’éponge là-dessus."  He also mentions the measurements of a frame for Pissarro and that when Pissarro returns to Paris, he should meet Gauguin at his office. Gauguin at the time was working at André Bourdon's bank. Regular business hours also now afforded regular painting hours as well. 

In the spring of 1879, Gauguin received his first invitation from Pissarro and Degas to participate in the Fourth Impressionist Exhibition. He submitted a sculpture of his son, but due to his late inclusion, it isn't mentioned in the catalogue. He makes his debut as a professional artist in 1880, presenting seven paintings and a bust of his wife. The few critics who notice his work are unimpressed, labeling him a "second tier" Impressionist whose influence by Pissarro is noticeable. Gauguin is enraged but oddly encouraged at the same time. Nothing but bad reviews could have as effectively established his status as an artist among his fellow artists.