(Miss Raff had given Ibsen, in 1890, as a birthday present, a sketch of a young girl’s head which he at once named Solveig.)
CHRISTIANIA, March 30th, 1892
Dearest Miss Raff:
ALLOW me to send you my warmest, my most heartfelt thanks for your kind letter, which reached me on my birthday, and also for your wonderfully charming picture, which I had the unspeakably great pleasure to receive a few days ago. It is now hung in a good place in my study, so that I may constantly satisfy myself by the view out over the broad, open sea, — and constantly increase my desire to meet the dear, dear lovely young girl who has created the beautiful little work of art. And who during its execution has thought of me from afar. Oh — if I might only have the opportunity to render thanks personally, thank you in such a way as I should like to. The sea I love. Your picture carries me in thought and sentiment to what I love. Yes, you have surely enriched me for life by what you have given me. Now little Solveig shall be hung beside the sea picture. Then I will have you wholly and altogether before me — and within me.
Such warm recollections of Munich arose in me when I received those remembrances in words and colors from you. How I should like to be down there again now. For I belong there so heartily.
But then there are so many things in life which place a restraint upon a man’s wishes and desires.
You have acquired an incredible ability in handling the Norwegian language. Do you never think of making a summer trip up here? To dream a bright fleeting summer night’s dream among the mountains or out by the sea?
Give me an answer to that some time, dearest Miss Raff. Will you? It would make me unspeakably happy — of course at your convenience — again to receive a few lines from you.
Yours truly and obligedly,
HENRIK IBSEN