Vincent writes to his brother Theo: "Dear Theo, my work here is good, the idea of moving in Venice for few months has been a great satisfaction.

I usually get up early in the morning and I go to "Riva de' Schiavoni" where I'm painting until 4 o'clock, without tiredness.
I think the period in Saint-Rémy like a memory! Nevertheless I'm struggling with a painting of gondoliers where all is built by movement of waves.

The essence is simple with many blue and tourquoise tones and typical yellow venetian light.
I've seen in the gondolier the representation of death, like a conveyer of souls to afterlife. But this is a shining death, full of light, with the sun that reflects and multiplies its lightness. Handshake with thought and many things to Jo. Vincent".