Van Gogh in

Theo and Jo

On 18 April 1889, Vincent’s brother Theo, an art dealer in Paris, married Johanna (Jo) Bonger (1862–1925). The wedding took place in Amsterdam, and Jo came to live with Theo in the French capital. Theo had had to find them a new apartment, since his flat on Rue Lepic was too small for them to share comfortably. The couple corresponded intensively about the search. On 4 February 1889, Theo notified Jo that after countless viewings he had finally rented a flat. He drew her a floor plan and described the place, which he had viewed twice:

“The dining room has two windows & is more long than wide, but it wasn’t disappointing this time & it is quite in my line, the neighbourhoud isn’t too fancy but one does not have to wear lacquered boots here anyway.” (source: Kort Geluk, p. 137)

Theo began furnishing the flat on the first of March, and he and Jo moved in on 20 April. It was in the Montmartre neighbourhood, near the branch of Boussod, Valadon & Cie where Theo worked as a manager, and he was able to come home to have lunch with his wife.

Vincent visited the flat twice: once in 1890, when he moved from Saint-Rémy to Auvers-sur-Oise and stayed for a few days in Paris on the way, and once when he was living in Auvers and came for a visit. Paintings by Vincent and other artists adorned the walls of Theo and Jo’s apartment.