Richard Diebenkorn Correspondence
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Correspondence from Richard Diebenkorn to Phyllis Diebenkorn
Date:
2 July 1945 Medium:
Ink on paper
Current owner:
Richard Diebenkorn Foundation Archives
Credit Line:
© Richard Diebenkorn Foundation RD number:
RDFA.250 Description
Correspondence from Richard Diebenkorn to Phyllis Diebenkorn while the artist was serving in the U.S. Marine Corps during World War II, 2 July 1945
Transcription:
July 2nd [1945]
My darling,
As you can see there are pictures in my letter tonight. Wonderful pictures for me because they and later developments made July 2nd a banner day for me.
The photo company has moved into new barracks and we have plenty of space now. Incidentally only one radio followed us and it is in a far corner well away from me. Now that the barracks are bearable I have been writing, reading and painting here but there is no place to sit. This morning I woke up with a desire to have a chair, a big comfortable one. So I drew up a plan and presented it to the head grip man who handles the carpentry. He was with about five other of the men and at the mention of the idea they all looked at me as if to say "You damned radical/crackpot."
So I went to the police shed where they have tools. I drew the necessary ones and they gave me nails. They told me where I could fine 2 x 4s. Then to the annoyance of quite a few I'm afraid I began to saw and hammer in the barracks because that was the only place to work with a level floor and then I thought it might be too heavy to move when it was constructed.
I am the hero of this story by way of note.
As the work progressed many became interested and shortly I had one of those steam shovel watchers breathing down my neck and giving me bad suggestions. But a few people, weren't interested and they still haven't recognized the chair. They go right by it and won't look at it. I worked furiously on it all morning and got almost as much kick out of it as doing a painting and then there was my object lesson in human nature.
It's comfortable, that is a matress on it, and it is as sturdy as any of the pyramids. Drawing of it is enclosed. Gretchen would be proud of her father.
I received no mail today and even with the excitement of the chair I feel a little blue.
I want to write Mother and Dad so I'll quit. I'm sending them a picture of the chair too. Love to all, and I love you.
Witz
Transcription:
July 2nd [1945]
My darling,
As you can see there are pictures in my letter tonight. Wonderful pictures for me because they and later developments made July 2nd a banner day for me.
The photo company has moved into new barracks and we have plenty of space now. Incidentally only one radio followed us and it is in a far corner well away from me. Now that the barracks are bearable I have been writing, reading and painting here but there is no place to sit. This morning I woke up with a desire to have a chair, a big comfortable one. So I drew up a plan and presented it to the head grip man who handles the carpentry. He was with about five other of the men and at the mention of the idea they all looked at me as if to say "You damned radical/crackpot."
So I went to the police shed where they have tools. I drew the necessary ones and they gave me nails. They told me where I could fine 2 x 4s. Then to the annoyance of quite a few I'm afraid I began to saw and hammer in the barracks because that was the only place to work with a level floor and then I thought it might be too heavy to move when it was constructed.
I am the hero of this story by way of note.
As the work progressed many became interested and shortly I had one of those steam shovel watchers breathing down my neck and giving me bad suggestions. But a few people, weren't interested and they still haven't recognized the chair. They go right by it and won't look at it. I worked furiously on it all morning and got almost as much kick out of it as doing a painting and then there was my object lesson in human nature.
It's comfortable, that is a matress on it, and it is as sturdy as any of the pyramids. Drawing of it is enclosed. Gretchen would be proud of her father.
I received no mail today and even with the excitement of the chair I feel a little blue.
I want to write Mother and Dad so I'll quit. I'm sending them a picture of the chair too. Love to all, and I love you.
Witz