It took Vincent two days to achieve Marguerite Gachet’s portrait: “ I painted this character with pleasure – but it’s difficult”…Why was it difficult?
What happened during the long hours, for two days running, while he was painting her at her piano? Was Marguerite respondent to Vincent’s interest? Was Vincent in love with her?
He linked three canvas to that painting in the letters to Theo: “ a Great Landscape, Puvis de Chavannes’ Rebirth (“watching it, you’re almost witnessing a rebirth, complete and benevolent, of all the things we believed in or desired…”) and the “Motherly Education” by Delacroix…
Fields full of flowers, a rebirth, a motherly education…wasn’t it a favourable setting to sweet feelings and blooming love?
Did Gachet feel Vincent was after his daughter? Was it the reason why he didn’t want to see him again?
Marguerite never said anything about it. Did she feel guilty? After the suicide, silence was the only answer…