Enveloped in Tender Passion

ALINE

My mind wanders to the beautiful complete time we had in Boston. It wanders very often. . . . I think this way>>>>> she seems so very nice -- but remember Eero you have not known her very long -- but the more I know of her and the more time I spend with her the more I just like to be with her -- but remember Eero if she is as nice as all that it is much better to learn to really know her -- slowly -- slowly. . . .

[C]an I tell here that I really love her from the bottom of my heart -- yes Eero you can do that because you really seem to do that.

LOVE EERO

Architect Eero Saarinen to critic Aline Bernstein, April 11, 1953. They'd met six weeks before, and fallen in love instantly. They were married Feb. 8, 1954.

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Wednesday

Hey beautiful,

Just got your letter . . . -- God you mean a lot to me -- it's never been like this before in my life. I cleaned the studio -- made the bed . . . -- I'm using the paint off your palette -- I feel so close to you . . . -- I'm drinking the beer you left on the windowsill -- & I'm kissing you -- this I do all the time . . .

Joan Mitchell to Michael Goldberg (1951)

When Mitchell wrote this letter to her fellow abstract painter, he was spending six months in Rockland State Hospital, Orangeburg, N.Y., in lieu of serving prison time for writing bad checks on her husband's account.