Library and Archive Reading Rooms
View by appointment- Created by
- Oskar Kokoschka 1886–1980
- Recipient
- Dr J. P. Hodin
- Title
- Letter from Oskar Kokoschka to J.P. Hodin
- Date
- 3 October [1939]
- Format
- Document - correspondence
- Collection
- Tate Archive
- Acquisition
- Accepted by HM Government in lieu of inheritance tax and allocated to Tate, 2006. Accrual presented by Annabel Hodin, 2020
- Reference
- TGA 20062/4/199/1/2
Description
[Translation/transcription]
Cliff End Cottage, Polperro / Looe, Cornwall
3 October
Dear Dr Hodin
Why have I not heard from you for so long! I would be very grateful to hear about the piece you were planning or to read it if it is finished?
Do you still need the material I sent you? If not, would you kindly let me know so that I can decide what to do with it? I have good friends in Helsinki who are urgently seeking autobiographical material about me, so I would ask you to send the parcel on to these friends once you are finished with it.
Have you read my play or shown it to anyone who might want to attempt a translation into Swedish?
Due to the war I am now cut off from everything: from my family, whom I miss very, very much; from my friends; from any sphere of influence. And of course some serious pecuniary concerns are starting to bother me again, as usual!! It is very depressing to be enclosed in a casket, so to speak, and it would do me good if a word of encouragement were to reach me every now and then. Everyone you meet here seems so willing to adjust to the present situation, which can only be excused by their ignorance of conditions on the continent. At the same time it's quite [illegible] when one meets or hears from the people one used to know. At first I did what I could to help out, but that's completely impossible now, and I'd rather hide myself away than reveal my incapacity.
I would be very, very pleased to hear from you soon and remain, with best wishes and regards,
Yours,
O. Kokoschka
Archive context
- Papers of Josef Paul Hodin TGA 20062 (407)
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- Correspondence by sender TGA 20062/4 (275)
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- Correspondence between Oskar Kokoschka and J.P. Hodin TGA 20062/4/199 (112)
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- Correspondence from Oskar Kokoschka to J.P. Hodin, 1938-48 TGA 20062/4/199/1 (25)
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- Letter from Oskar Kokoschka to J.P. Hodin TGA 20062/4/199/1/2