Letter from Oskar Kokoschka to J.P. Hodin

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[Translation/transcription]

33 Mönchsberg, Salzburg till 25. Aug. 55

2. Aug. 55

My dear Hodinus,

I could not write because I was upset about your so well-meant idea to make my 'coming of age' world-known. I cannot possibly help you in advertising my own glory and end. The people you invited to write about it do it as journalism but as they do not know the first thing about my work therefor nothing good can come out of it. The few people who are well informed write to me that is not a good idea at all and I must say I do agree with them.

If you remember at your visit at our house we talked about a really good and important exhibition of my work in the Tate gallery and that is of course is quite a different thing. I personally always hate this kind of collective publications and always ignore invitations to participate if possible. And I really should hate to be made the object of one. Only for the sake of curiousity - who is Olga Schnitzler, seems to be a female, but I never heard of her. Please, for God sake, drop this idea if you mean it well with me. I am glad there is no film and also that Scira has refused. He sticks to the haute culture de Paris. But I shall be very happy about a exhibition of my life's work, including of course the paintings belonging now to American museums or private owners. And I thank you very much for everything useful you intend to do in these ways. I am longing to see the beautyful again after all the strain and hard work here. The 'magic' flute was indeed magic, reception a sensation, repeated next year wich is Mozart's year. School over 100 students, some very nice girls!! Love to you both from us and auf Wiedersehen.

Yours,

OK

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