Paris. André J. Rotgé writes a letter to Bruno Schulz, in which he confirms the conditions for organising an exhibition of his drawings in his gallery between November 1–15, 1938.
The letter is a consequence of Schulz’s earlier meeting with the Paris art dealer. Rotgé expects Schulz “as soon as possible” [au plus tôt] to send him a fee of 1,600 francs “for the final confirmation of the reservation”. Although it is, as he writes, a prix exceptionnel, i.e. an exceptional and even friendly price, it turns out to be too high for the financial capacity of an artist who wanted to show the world his drawings. According to the exchange rates of the time, Rotgé expects Schulz to pay a fee of around 260 zlotys. This sum was equivalent to the monthly salary of a teacher from Drohobych and, most importantly, reached two-thirds of the funds he had at his disposal in Paris.
For some time, Schulz does not make a final decision. In a lost letter from Paris to Maria Chasin* (written between August 5 and August 12), he still hesitates. Chasin writes back to him on August 15: “As for the exhibition at rue du Faub[ourg] St-Honoré, please think it through carefully and get some advice to reliable people. It is a pity that Mrs. Pregel is not in Paris as she would certainly help you in this”. In the end, Schulz, alone or on someone else’s advice, decides to give up the possibility of organising the exhibition. He communicated it to the dealer before leaving Paris, either personally or through Weingart. In a letter to Romana Halpern*, already written in Drohobych, he describes it this way: “I did establish a relationship with one art dealer at Faub. St. Honoré, who wanted to do an exhibition for me, but then I withdrew”. (sr) (transl. mw)
