To Bertha from Irwin Hoffman – February 18, 1925
Cagne, France
[Note: Irwin Hoffman is the young art prodigy mentioned here. In 1924, Hoffman received The Paige Traveling Scholarship, the Boston Museum School’s most prestigious award. Traveling abroad with fellow award recipients, he studied and painted across Europe. Upon his return from Europe, Hoffman established himself in a NYC studio, which he maintained until his death in 1989.]
Dear Bertha,
Yes, I deserve all the hard names you can call me, but wait until you get over and see many letters you will write. It’s hard to say how Europe reacts on me. One day I feel one way and the next day different about the same thing. So, I would say a word to you of my impressions, every one I’ve met treats them in their personal manner. You undoubtedly will see Europe much differently than I do. But anyway, I’m having a great time, painting and door stuff, and the best of all, doing any damn thing I wish to at the moment I have the impulse. My wings are beginning to grow and life grows more interesting and bigger proportionally. Europe has a wonderful way of turning one upside down and brings one down to earth. Also, it puts New England in its relative position, a position so insignificant that it’s influence of 23 years is getting severe knocks. And thank God for that.
Aaron and I are flying to Rome in about three weeks, arriving there about March 8th or 9th. We are planning to stay in Italy until the Irish gather for holy year and make things to best. We shall quit Italy in June, then I go to Paris and then to Holland and don’t know what Aarons plans are. But we are to be in Rome for a month. When do you come over? Or are you over here now? I’ll send this to America and another to Rome. It would be droll if you have been there for months already. My address is always C/O American Express, II Rue Sicily, Paris. Best of luck in all you are going.
Regards from.
Irwin
Miss Bertha Ballou
262 75th Street
Brooklyn, New York
U.S.A.
Irwin D. Hoffman
C/O American Express
II Rue Sicily
Paris