Letter from Jacques Lipchitz to Pierre Dubaut

Description

Full translation:

'My Dear Friend,
It made me very happy to receive your letter, I was worried that you were not getting my letters and it was making me sad. I'm now feeling reassured. I'm the same as you, apart from a few exceptions, I've not heard about anyone. But this morning I've received a letter from Jacques Bucher from Bauchan...[illegible] along with yours, he says that he hasn't moved and everything at home is in order, which made me happy because of the horse. From Paris, no news, all I know is that my house has not been bombed and that is already a lot considering it was happening all around it. What happened to it since then, I have no idea. Let's hope that the day I can get back, we're not there yet, the house will be intact. The other day while reading the 'In Search Of' column in the newspaper, I saw that one of LaMee's colleagues was looking for his wife and daughter. So, I quickly wrote to that man, asking about my friend, and I received a letter a poignant letter from LaMee himself. Without news of his wife or his son, he's stranded in Montpellier [south coast of France] where one of his colleagues is looking after him. Ruins and pain everywhere as you can see! We are only four people in Castelnou [Pyrenees, France]. Charaux is trying to get to Switzerland where he can find some work, there is nothing at all here.
Madame Bucher's daughter is trying to rejoin her sister for the same reasons, Madame Bucher would like to get back to Paris, but the 'non occupied' as you said are not as free in their movements as we think. I'm thinking of staying here with my wife, in the conditions that unfortunately you know and that have not changed. I'm incredibly touched by your fraternal proposition and I have no words to express how much it reassures me for my future, as I really, really don't know what to do, what to start. Yes, I'm working a little bit on my sculptures and drawings, it even seems to be a little different from what I have done before, it?s not surprising after all the recent shocks. I would really like to know that you are working, it?s so necessary... what a pity that you are not here! The place is wonderful, and things have'?t changed since antiquity, it's astoundingly beautiful. Are your sister and nephew able to work a little bit? Remind me of their good memories. I enjoy the thoughts of the three paintings finally enjoying the beautiful light and strokes from your loving eyes. Why don't you do the same for the other ones?!
I would like to know if Picasso really is in Royan and what he's doing, say hello from me if you see him. Braque is in the area in the Ariege [southwestern France], Legui is in Toulouse from what I've heard, no. News from anyone else. I'm sending you all my best wishes'.

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