2 October (1913): Marsden Hartley to Gertrude Stein

“I am not a ‘book of the month’ artist, and I do not paint pretty pictures; but when I am no longer here my name will register forever in the history of American art,” wrote Marsden Hartley to his sister towards the end of his life. While Hartley still remains in the American art canon, his writing draws less attention today. Hartley’s interest in poetry may be one of the reasons why he became such a successful artist. His first painting that drew attention was of Walt Whitman’s home. Americans, particularly New Yorkers, loved Marsden Hartley’s work, but Europeans were not as enthused. Gertrude Stein was the rare exception. She considered his art beyond all others, and that it “gave her unqualified pleasure daily and hourly”. In 1913, Hartley was having financial troubles. Earlier, when Gertrude Stein had insisted upon paying twenty dollars for a drawing of his which he wanted to give to her, it had been agreed that the money would be regarded as an emergency fund that Hartley would call for when he really needed it. It was this money, plus an equal amount as a gift, which Miss Stein had just telegraphed him in Berlin.

Nassauischestr. 4, Wilmersdorm, Berlin [Oct 1913]

My Dear Miss Stein,

I have your letter this morning & want to thank you profoundly for your telegram & for the money—& for your kind support generally. The money has averted a nasty situation. Your warmth and interest contribute highly to my welfare…

I had a letter this morning also from Ronnebeck saying he had seen you all & was so glad for it, and that you talked over my situation with him…I had told him that I knew some people in N.Y. with heaps of money. Well I know them in a far off way as far as money goes. They bought two of my still-lifes, and it was on this money and on $500—which Arthur B. Davies gave me personally that I lived in Paris. My only connection with these people is through Stieglitz, that is on the money side…I owe him everything for the success of the past….And….for all this time I have been one of his spiritual & practical cares. Steichen was his first one—he fostered him through every namable [sic] vicissitude to success as a photographer and alike as a painter. The same with John Marin the water color man, who is really wonderful in that medium. Then myself. You see I actually want to end these responsibilities for him & for myself. For this reason alone I have thought my presence with the pictures would effect a decent connection…Apart from all this, a good talk with Stieglitz privately as a friend on all matters would be valuable to him and me. Then there is Davies too, who has silent connections—a wealthy woman who I really think bought something & gave him all or part of the money he gave me. I never have known. I only know that this very quiet and lovely person came often to my show at “291” & took me to Mrs. Havemeyer’s house to see her collection among which are nine Cezanne’s—very fine over all—that was my first actual glimpse of him. It was from his water colors that I got most inspiration as expressing the color & form of “new places”—those you have & others at Bernheim’s. I write you all this—too much at length—only because I think you should know a little more of facts & backgrounds about me…

However you will be bored to death—by this time. If I were sitting with you in 27, it would be but one of my conversations…

As to your idea to have Stieglitz print your play with me in it and reproduce some of my work, I think it simply splendid & I would love it, and I think that all we would have to do would be to suggest it, for I know he would be very sympathetic to the idea. Suppose you suggest this to him in a letter soon & I will mention it too…

My very best wishes to you always—the same to Miss Toklas…

Always your friend

Marsden Hartley

From The Flowers of Friendship: Letters Written to Gertrude Stein. Edited by Donald Gallup. New York: Octagon Books, 1979. p. 84-6.

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