Poet, painter, art critic, Emile Bernard’s friend writes in January 1890 in the Mercure de France a long, laudative article which is probably one of the best written on Vincent’s work to this day. He refers to “his passionate will to scream his own essential song in the most powerful tone..., his cheek to peer at the sun face to face...a fanatic opposed to the middle-class restraints, a kind of drunk giant, a brain in a ferment pouring its lava into art’s ravines...”
When Vincent, who was in Saint Rémy and had just gone through a fit, received this article sent by Theo, he was amazed, saying he was “flabbergasted”…”no need to tell you I hope I will go on thinking that’s not the way I paint, but the way I should paint”.
In his thank you letter to Aurier, Vincent refers to Monticelli, Gauguin, Quost, Janin rather than himself… “ the part I play or the part I am to play will remain, I can assure you, most secondary.”
According to Jo, Aurier must have met Vincent on Sunday July 6th. But there is no mention of this any of Vincent’s letters, which is rather surprising if we consider the great impact of the article upon him.