Letter from Oskar Kokoschka to J.P. Hodin

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[Translation/transcription]

Villeneuve

4 August 1967

My dear Master Hodinus,

Here at last is your drawing for your book, which is getting very positive reviews in the USA. The English need time like the old Viennese though. You and I can wait.

The drawing is done in lithographic ink on lithographic paper. It should be easy to have it transferred to stone and clearly etched in London. I'm also sending you back your manuscript here, though I've not yet had time to read it. Life's too short, and I'm sure you and Olda, after my all-too-early departure, will edit the manuscripts in such a way that they might as well have been written by me. Of course I don't expect any royalties. Ask for the original of the self-portrait once it's been printed. It belongs to you. But tell the printer that the etch shouldn't be too harsh; the lines oughtn't to be any thicker or thinner, just clearly distinct from each other. It's a very nice drawing. I rehearsed it a couple of times because I'm not used to working at this small scale. Please send a few test prints before you use them, with some colour ones too.

May your hair never grow grey. Kisses to the beautyfull one and the witch, fervent ones from me, and come again soon. The British Museum has just bought my suite of designs for Oberon, my first sale in England at eighty years of age. I suppose I can't complain. This acquisition makes me the first living artist among the Egyptian mummies!

All best and love always,

Yours,

OK

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