Maurice ESTÈVE (1904-2001). 58 L.A.S., Paris and Culan 1972-1985, to Mme Suzanne Studin; 70 pages in-4 or in-8, envelopes. Important friendly correspondence with a Parisian woman who takes care of her mother, to whom she gives affection and comfort, for which Estève never ceases to thank her. Madame Estève died in May 1974, and from then on, the exchange of letters became less frequent. The main topic was his mother's health, with whom he regretted not being more present, "prisoner of an exhausting job". He did go to the cinema, however, to see Buñuel's The Discreet Charm of the Bourgeoisie in January 1973, which disappointed him and inspired him to reflect on the use of color by filmmakers. He spends his summers in Culan, trying to work in his studio, "overwhelmed by exhibition projects for which I have so little taste! But as my friend Laurens, the great sculptor, used to say to me: 'You have to exhibit, Estève, because you have to help the... dealers! He promises a watercolor, but is overwhelmed: "Since I'm not talented, I have to work a lot to get the slightest result. And working takes time. And as I'm not helped, like Dubuffet, by a factory of craftsmen and twenty secretaries, my nights of rest are short...". Is he a victim of his "passion-creation? Certainly, but a happy and willing victim. However, the dealers are demanding, and the artist has no right to abandon them. He "pushes" lithographs, "exhausting work for me without the hubbub of the studios". In April 1973, his mother asked to see his watercolor exhibition at the Galerie Claude Bernard. He then exhibited in Zurich, and in September prepared collaged papers on which he "dried". In February 1974, he had to "give up (oil) painting" to devote himself to posters and lithographs. An exhibition is planned in Bremen, and another of papiers collés at Galerie Claude Bernard in April. But his mother's health suddenly deteriorated, and she died on May 22, 1974. His correspondence became more sporadic: he sent books and greetings for the holidays. On the anniversary of his mother's death, in May 1975, he makes a few confidences: as an only child, he had never been a family man; "There was indeed a cousin, who gave me the most passionate of emotions... But I was 17 and it wasn't the family that warmed my heart and... my flesh... Let's move on, let's move on"... He regrets that his tapestries are exhibited too close together at the Arts Décoratifs. He devotes all his time to painting (Paris, June 18, 1976) "everything else knocks me out - friends and girlfriends excepted. (It's hard, dear friend, to grow old with a young heart!...)"; he humorously describes his condition: his baldness, his belly that "doesn't fall into line", the difficulties of his work: "My genius (of the Bastille) takes vacations by the Oceans after having taken them on the snowy peaks of winter, while waiting to take new ones, those of the summer transhumance, so that he abandons me almost all year round". In July '77, he writes that in Culan, in May, the Arnon "(such a pretty river, such a hypocrite, such a gourgandine) suddenly possessed by a furious erotic crisis, left her bed to lay caresses on mine!"... The last letters are filled with gratitude for the one who "brought so much affection to my little mother"...