Diary of Marie Bashkirtseff
CZENUKFR

Saturday, 20 August 1881

I presented myself alone to Falguière the sculptor; I told him I was American and showed him some drawings, making known my desire to work. There was one he found very good, very good — all the others good. He sent me to a studio where he gives advice, and beyond that, if the arrangement did not suit me, he put himself entirely at my disposal — either for me to bring him what I had done, or for him to come to me. That is kind. But for that I already have Saint Marceaux, whom I adore, and I would be quite content with the studio where Arcangiolo — our former model, the first I ever drew — now works as an attendant.

# Samedi 20 août 1881

The studio is run by another former model, Colorossi.

L'atelier est tenu par un ancien modele aussi, Colorossi.

I shall work evenings in the men's studio — no one knows me there, on the rue de la Grande Chaumière. And besides, even if it were known, it is known that I work in a studio. Society people make no distinction between these things, and merely "the studio" already sounds improper in their ears… I shall paint from seven to one, eleven to twelve for lunch, then from twelve to four again — that makes an eight-hour session, which is all one can sustain regularly in painting; there are days one stays nine, ten hours, but that is exceptional… From four to six, rest. That is a great deal, but then — I am ill. From six to seven, dinner; at half past seven I am at sculpture until ten.

Je travaillerai le soir dans l'atelier des hommes, personne ne me connait la, rue de la Grande Chaumiere. Et du reste quand meme on saurait on sait que je travaille dans un atelier. Les gens du monde ne distinguent pas ces choses-la et [!'] atelier seul sest deja mal ainsi... Je peindrai de sept a une, de onze a douze dejeuner, de douze a quatre heure encore, ce qui fait une seance de huit heures, c'est tout ce qu'on peut faire de la peinture regulierement, il y a des jours ou on reste neuf, dix heures mais c'est exceptionnel... De quatre a six repos. C'est beaucoup mais enfin je suis malade, de six a sept diner, a sept et demie je suis a la sculpture jusqu'a dix heures.

[In the margin: one could also dine at half past five to work from seven to ten.]

[Dans la marge: on pourrait aussi diner a cinq heures et demie pour travailler de sept a dix.]

[Written across the page: I was not able to get my painting models at the required hours, and I was too tired that evening, and I was always expecting to leave for Biarritz — so I have postponed this work until my return in October.]

[En travers: Je n'ai pas pu avoir mes modeles de peinture aux heures voulues et j'etais trop fatiguee ce soir et je m'attendais toujours a partir pour Biarritz, aussi ai-je remis ce travail a mon retour a octobre.]

And if I am too tired… it is probable that I shall not begin until eight in the morning — giving myself an hour in the morning, I shall not take one in the afternoon and shall paint until five. One hour of rest is quite enough; I never rest as much as that, especially in full daylight. As for winter, one paints only from eight to three for want of light, sometimes until half past three — I shall have an easy time of it then. But do not imagine I am working myself to death: society people, the idle, are horrified at eight, ten hours of work a day — but ask the artists, ask the workers — one is all the better for it. As for me, if I did not work I would have killed myself by now. Besides, I allow myself four to eight hours of sleep and rest at last… I shall see Saint Marceaux on my return from the seaside…

Et si je suis trop fatiguee... il est probable que je ne commencerai qu'a huit heures le matin, alors me donnant une heure le matin je n'en prendrai une dans l'apres-midi et peindrai jusqu'a cinq heures. Une heure de repos c'est bien assez, je ne me repose jamais tant que ca, surtout en plein jour. Quant a l'hiver on ne peint que de huit a trois a cause du jour, quelquefois a trois et demie, j'aurai donc beau jeu; mais ne croyez pas que je m'en fasse mourir, les gens du monde, les oisifs sont epouvantes de huit heures, de dix heures de travail par jour, mais demander aux artistes, aux travailleurs on ne s'en porte que mieux, moi si je ne travaillais pas je me serais deja tuee. Du reste je me donne quatre a huit heures de sommeil et du repos enfin... Je verrai Saint Marceaux a mon retour de la mer...