Bidspirit auction | MONET CLAUDE: (1840-1926)

MONET CLAUDE: (1840-1926) - MONET CLAUDE: (1840-1926) French Impressionist painter. A.L.S., Claude Monet , two pages (written to the first and third sides of the bifolium), 8vo, Giverny par Vernon, Eure, 17th October 1918, to Henri Bernard ( ´Mon cher Henri´ ), in French. Monet writes in bold pencil and thanks his correspondent for having sent him some cigarettes, remarking ´C´est bien gentil de penser à moi - et vous pouvez toujours m´en envoyer si vous avez l´occasion d´en trouver, car ici c´est de toute impossibilité´ (Translation: ´It’s very kind of you to think of me – and you can always send me some more if you happen to find any, as it’s absolutely impossible to get hold of them here´ ) and further adding ´Vous pourriez aussi m´envoyer du tabac. Caporal Supérieur à 1 fr 25 le paquet bleu´ (Translation: ´You could also send me some tobacco. Caporal Supérieur at 1 franc 25 per blue packet´ ). In a postscript Monet explains that he is enclosing a money order (no longer present) for a round figure of 40 francs. Accompanied by the original envelope hand addressed by Monet. VG Monet was a heavy smoker for most of his adult life, frequently smoking Caporal Rose cigarettes. These dark French tobacco cigarettes, quite strong by modern standards, were very common in France in the late 19th and early 20th centuries and were associated with artists, soldiers, and intellectuals. Monet also smoked a pipe throughout his life, hence his request for tobacco in the present letter. France experienced major tobacco shortages during World War I for several reasons, not least because large amounts of tobacco production and distribution were redirected to soldiers at the front.