Correspondence from Richard Diebenkorn to Phyllis Diebenkorn
Date4 July 1945
Current owner
Richard Diebenkorn Foundation Archives
MediumInk on paper
Credit Line© Richard Diebenkorn Foundation
RD numberRDFA.262
Description
Correspondence from Richard Diebenkorn to Phyllis Diebenkorn while the artist was serving in the U.S. Marine Corps during World War II, 4 July 1945
Transcription:
July 4th [1945]
Darling,
Here are two photographs of your disagreeable husband. Bad composition, bad prints, bad boy. But the photographer was drunk (they were taken at the picnic Sunday), the prints were made under make-shift conditions (so they tell me), and last night I was so bored and depressed that I had to express it some way.
Today was different. After chow this morning I packed up my paints and hitch-hiked my way up the coast in the direction we were taken when we went on the picnic. I walked and walked and finally found what I wanted. I collected myself and went about my work with a clear mind. No GIs peering over my shoulder, no deadlines, and quiet. The subject matter: looking down on small houses and trees in the foreground, over rows of trees and up to a sugar mill with wonderful gables and a good smokestack, á la Cezanne, and green hills streaked with terra cotta red in the background. The post-impressionist influence is strong in the picture but where is modern art that hasn't used p.i. as a point of departure. That's not completely true but at any rate post impressionism certainly never hurt anyone — Oh hell. The picture is good.
No letter today as I expected but I have hopes for tomorrow. Oh – I sent a snapshot to Mom + Dad. The one with the bad composition.
I'm going to the movie now. Give my love to Grett and to sweet, left-handed Mom II. Tell her I'm working up to a long letter for her.
I love you more than
anything in the world,
Witz
Transcription:
July 4th [1945]
Darling,
Here are two photographs of your disagreeable husband. Bad composition, bad prints, bad boy. But the photographer was drunk (they were taken at the picnic Sunday), the prints were made under make-shift conditions (so they tell me), and last night I was so bored and depressed that I had to express it some way.
Today was different. After chow this morning I packed up my paints and hitch-hiked my way up the coast in the direction we were taken when we went on the picnic. I walked and walked and finally found what I wanted. I collected myself and went about my work with a clear mind. No GIs peering over my shoulder, no deadlines, and quiet. The subject matter: looking down on small houses and trees in the foreground, over rows of trees and up to a sugar mill with wonderful gables and a good smokestack, á la Cezanne, and green hills streaked with terra cotta red in the background. The post-impressionist influence is strong in the picture but where is modern art that hasn't used p.i. as a point of departure. That's not completely true but at any rate post impressionism certainly never hurt anyone — Oh hell. The picture is good.
No letter today as I expected but I have hopes for tomorrow. Oh – I sent a snapshot to Mom + Dad. The one with the bad composition.
I'm going to the movie now. Give my love to Grett and to sweet, left-handed Mom II. Tell her I'm working up to a long letter for her.
I love you more than
anything in the world,
Witz
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