Letter to Johann Heinrich Wilhelm Dietz, December 13, 1890

Author(s) Friedrich Engels
Written 13 December 1890


First published in: Marx and Engels, Works, First Russian Edition, Vol. XXVIII, Moscow, 1940
Printed according to the original
Published in English for the first time in Marx-Engels Collected Works, Volume 49


ENGELS TO JOHANN HEINRICH WILHELM DIETZ

IN STUTTGART

London, 13 December 1890

Dear Mr Dietz,

I have yet to tender you my warmest thanks for the magnificent birthday present you sent me. I was particularly delighted with Rei- nicke's pictures; it's the first time I have seen German genre paintings depicting life in a big city that are altogether free of the stiffness and affectation which otherwise so obstinately dog German painters of genre and historical pieces. But here we have no poses — here we have life as it is lived.

That we tippled our way merrily through my 70th birthday you will have heard from the three Magi on their return to the Orient.[1]

And that things are proceeding at a brisk pace in Germany I see and hear daily, and that is best of all.

With cordial regards

Yours,

F. Engels

  1. ↑ Bebel, Liebknecht and Singer who came to celebrate Engels' 70th birthday.