Letter from Paul Cézanne to Camille Pissarro

After finishing the book Impressionism by Phoebe Pool, I was inspired by the Impressionism period. However, as interesting as everything was, two people stood out: Paul Cézanne and Camille Pissarro. I was motivated to learn more about their stories and heartwarming friendship. Below, I wrote a letter of what I believe would have been exchanged between the two friends during their time. Most of the information came from Phoebe Pool’s book, but others came from various sites on the internet.

Please note that while I tried to make everything historically accurate, I cannot guarantee complete accuracy. For example, I am still determining the exact dates of when the two friends first met or the exact locations where they both lived.

Jas de Bouffan, No 23

Aix-en-Provence, France 92100

September 12th, 1888

Camille Pissarro 

l’Hermitage en Oise River, Pontoise 

Paris, France 35590

Dear Camille, 

Thank you. My family has never believed in me, but you always have, and I hope you always will. You have been by my side since we met. I still remember that time as clear as day when Paul Durand-Ruel, our dealer, introduced us in 1861 at the Académie Suisse in Paris, where we took classes. It must have been fate because, ever since, we have never left the other’s side. You are like a brother to me. Actually – scratch that – you are even like a father to me. Don’t get me wrong. I love my biological father as well. But, when he was still alive, our relationship was complicated. Whereas you, unlike him, who seemed to disapprove of my every move, have always supported me. When my father clashed with me for every career choice I made or made snarking remarks about my art, you stood up for me and kept my ambition ablaze. And now, in a world that feels like complete chaos, you continue to be my light, guiding me out of the confusion. 

Last year, I finished a new painting and brought it to the salon. To be honest, I didn’t want to sell it, but I needed something to support the family as my father, alive at the time, was sick, and money was tight. But the salon had the heartless audacity to reject my work. Is it because they still don’t consider me a “true impressionist,” or are they running out of customers and funding? Either way, no matter how much I bargained and pleaded, they wouldn’t accept the painting. They seem to do that much more often now. I didn’t know what to do. The salon was my only money outlet. Now, it deserted mefrom me. You have always told me to grit my teeth when times are hard, to hold onto hope, and wish for better days. But, my father was sick and dying, my wife was unfaithful, and my son was ungrateful. There was nothing left to hope for. 

I didn’t know what to do and felt so lost. As a result, I fell into a severe state of depression and addiction to alcohol. I became withdrawn and easily irritable. Soon, the city of Aix-en-Provence became too distressing for me. I felt burdened even in my own home. It became a place no different from others. An area in which the world seemed to be pitted against me, bidding on my failure. Because of this, I isolated myself from the world and those who loved me. I know that no matter what reason I give, it cannot excuse how disappointing it was; what I did. But please try to momentarily put yourself in my shoes and think from my perspective. I had felt like a burden to my family and society. I felt as if the world wanted me gone. What was the point of life when there was nothing to live for? For me, there was no point. At least not until you came back to help me. 

You visited me all the way from Paris when you noticed the pain and agony that I was going through. You took me to the countryside to paint and, although I was annoyed then, I genuinely am grateful for what you did. You brought me away from the city, a core reason for my stress, and helped me relax. You were my guardian angel, guiding me to refind the beauty in life. You have taught me that, although sometimes it doesn’t seem so, there is always something to hope for. 

Now, even though we are parting again, I am a different person, a man of hope. You have changed me for the better. And, because of that, I wish to say:

Thank you, 

Paul