Category: art

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Piet Mondrian

November 1981, Washington DC

We are going to Harbison’s for dinner again tonight, this time with Susan down from Boston and the Vergaras and Mary Myers. Yesterday we went to State Dept for Nyle Brady’s swearing in to AID. It was interesting – with champagne, yet – at 1 pm. Last night we were out to the Ter Vrugt’s to a great dinner with some old IITAers, plus others. I went to the new part of art gallery to the Rodin exhibit (very impressive) and saw this Mondrian and some nice Picassos also. Maybe I’ll got back. I found the Air and Space museum less interesting. Hope all is ok with you.

Love, Va

No 2563 Lozenge in Red, Yellow, and Blue c 1925
National Gallery of Art, Washington

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Theodore Van Rijsselberghe

May 1983

Isn’t this a nice painting? We saw the original yesterday at the K. M. Museum. It is gorgeous! Our “outing” was very nice with an all aft. dinner in an old inn – 6 courses. Today I took the ladies to Keukenhof – cold but beautiful. Jeanette Kang will spend Wednesday with me. B and I will take off on Sat on the boat trip up the Rhine, Naimegan to Basil. B needs a rest from the office. Tonight is the diner in Voorschaten for everyone. Wish you were here.

Love, Va

A Family in an orchard; Rijksmuseum Kroller Muller, Otterlo, Holland

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Piet Mondrian

January, 1984

Gunta and I spent all day yesterday at the museum – isn’t this a lovely painting? I much prefer his middle period! Bill played tennis yesterday and won. Haworths are leaving today – but he will continue to work part time. I just finished “Max”. It’s very good. I’m hooked on the snooker tournaments on BBC-TV. They are fascinating and I can sew or needlepoint as well as watch. Our snow is almost all gone but we may get more. I’ve got to go buy fruit and stuff – good exercise!

Love to you, Va

Boerdenij bij Duivendrecht c. 1916

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Sol IV (1967)

October 1973

Bill called from Kennedy last night just before he left for London and Lagos. We think you may not need a physical now if you have no basic complaints?? For a change, the sun is shining and we have a lovely fall day. Tom is out with his gang building a mud fort, Jane is home with a cold, Steve is taking care of the garbage! Wish you were here.

Love, Mom

Sol IV, Richard Anuszkiewicz, Elvehjem Art Center, madison, Wisconsin

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Pistachio

September 1973

I’ve been thinking about you all day and hope you had a good trip and are in a nice room at school. Bill called and said you got off ok (I was at hospital so he talked to Jane). Thought you might enjoy this card – B and I went through the museum in Madison.

What size is your Baby Jane blouse? There are some nice ones here – I might get you one.

Love, Mom

Pistachio (1971), Helen Frankenthaler, Elvehjem Art Center, Madison Wisconsin

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Fraumunster Zurich

June 1983

Your letter/clipping just came. The photos are wonderful – make me nostalgic for Burma – especially good of Pagan.

We are still raining and chilly – especially in the aft and eve. Depressing. Alicia is coming for supper tonight, we’ll got to Rotterdam Concert tomorrow – maybe with Gunta.

I’m trying to get apt ready for family.

Love, Va

Augusto Giacometti, Detial: Anbetender Engel, Fraumunster Zurich

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Vincent Van Gogh

January 1985, Den Haag

We made it ok, bags and all. Kees met us with 2 bouquets of flowers (tulips, yet!) and wearing his big snow boots! It is cold, snowy and white-foggy. Rather eerie, but pretty and very chilly. Will write more later.

Love, Va

Vincent Van Gogh. Flowering garden with path
Bluhennder Garten in Arles

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Piet Mondrian

July 1985

T&Family left for Utrecht today hoping to get in some biking along the Vecht river. I sure hope all goes well. We went out tonight for supper with Alicia and Gormbleys (here for 2 weeks). Took Tom’s to Enkhuisen on Sunday – had a nice day and a good time. I mailed your skirt – hope it looks ok. If not, don’t wear it! Did you have a good time in Madison? I see your Mpls temp is high.

Love, Va

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Pig

1985

Dear Mom,

Since you are into self-portraits, here is another. If the one you sent Va. was an Iowa pig, here’s your Chinese one!

I have a self-portrait on the stairway chest – a basket in the shape of a chicken. Its head comes off to get into the basket. I have it displayed with the head off! Me this week!

Love, Sigrid

Chinese Western Han dynasty (206 BC-AD 9)