Draft letter from Jacques Lipchitz to Dina and Fanya

Description

There is an undated draft letter in Russian, addressed to 'dear sisters', and a dated draft letter addressed to unknown recipient, in French.
In the Russian letter Jacques Lipchitz writes about his illness and bad financial situation:
"It is difficult to explain to you, in which conditions we live here, and by which tricks we managed to keep on surface so far. The further, the more impossible our position becomes, the more false.If only I had good health, it would be easier to fight, otherwise it would be completely unbearable...If you are not in Moscow, then I am afraid that the incentive for my trip has greatly weakened, and on the other hand, I do not feel any right to slow you down. I told you, children, the whole truth, but I would be lying if I said that I have no hope of seeing you this spring [1935].
Thank you, my dears, for [sending me] the clipping with the sculpture. I was very interested, not that I really liked it, no, I can't say that. But the idea is interesting. Moreover, this summer I myself made models of the monument, which in construction is somewhat reminiscent of this one. My idea was the following. "Happiness of life in the new world". The pedestal column is divided into several floors, (and at the top is a dancing group with a hammer and a sickle - crossed out), the lower floor is slave labor. The next leaders, Marx, Engels, Lenin, etc.
(New page, where there is the dated draft letter in French, 2/3 of a page, after which the Russian text continues).
Then episodes of the taking of power by the proletariat, the upper floor of the construction of a new life, and all this serves as a plinth for a large group of dancing young people (...) embodied by a hammer and sickle. Of course, this is a major symphony that requires a lot of development. I just outlined in a few sketches the main idea, which, in my opinion, should have been developed collectively, and now I meet a similar approach in the clipping that you send. I am very happy about this, it's just a pity that the sculpture is not up to par. But I'm sure this will come with time. Where, if not in your country, was born a great sculpture, this art for the masses. Now I am working on a large sketch, which can be called "Behind the Red Banner" (the last phrase is crossed out, there is no further text).

Read more