Eugène BOUDIN (1824-1898). - Lot 28

Eugène BOUDIN (1824-1898). L.A.S. "E.B.", Paris February 26, 1867, to his brother Louis; 4 pages in-8°. Interesting letter on the preparation of the Salon for the 1867 Universal Exhibition, from which many painters, notably Monet, were excluded. He was unable to extricate himself "from this dreadful nightmare that the preoccupation with and absorption in this cursed Salon gives me while awake. For a month and more I've been devoting precious time to this work, and I've had a bad blood that's impossible to describe - a kind of insanity in my research, a searching too far that's made me spoil everything I've touched. Finally, for several days now, I've been redoing the paintings I've missed on new charges & I've just about pulled two out of this senseless massacre, but it's neither without pain nor without anxiety. This Salon is a vital issue for us, as we begin to attract the attention of art lovers. Presumably, abstention or failure would be very detrimental to us"... He regrets the time wasted in unsuccessful attempts. "There's a lot of complaining, especially among our dealers. There's a kind of waiting that's not very pleasing for those who are in a hurry. In spite of this, we must put ourselves in a position to satisfy the foreigners who are expected here next month"... It seems that Courbet has not done well with his sales, "it's rather sad"... On a day-to-day basis, nothing special: "Marianne washes, cooks, sews, makes fire, while I, attached to my easel, strive to do well & don't always succeed"... He resumes his letter ten days later, as he has been totally caught up in the Salon, and encloses a mandate; he again mentions his material difficulties, complains of his stupefaction and so on.