Sept 19, 1943, Al Kotin (Sylvia’s Brother) to Sylvia “Where’s my sense of humor gone to? Woe is me – Al ” 

Today we have a letter from Sylvia’s brother Al Kotin to Sylvia. The somewhat morose tone highlights just how optimistic Alex’s letters sound in comparison. After the war, Al became a well-known and well-regarded abstract expressionist painter in New York, but there’s no hint of that future in his letter. Here he talks about how difficult basic training is for engineering and the lack of free “time to think, to breathe, to rest, or just to smoke.” I appreciate how aghast he is at his new role in life: “Later I’ll be building bridges, digging ditches, etc. ME!!” He asks Sylvia to keep in touch even though she’s busy – I hope she did since he sounds so down. I wonder how much art he was making before and during the war, he was prolific afterwards. Take a look at just a couple of the paintings he’d later create, which were featured in a Hollis Taggart Gallery show in Chelsea a couple years ago:

Al writes with some tongue in cheek formality, that punctures his pessimistic tone. “Have to close now as you can see by referring to the preceding paragraph. Where’s my sense of humor gone to? Woe is me. -Al“

P.S. Did you get a 3 starred banner? Ask Leon [their brother] to write to me – I haven’t his address.

Dear Sylvia –

These letters I shall send to you are for Mom as well. Tell her that. 

What must you have been thinking of to have sent back the card taht I had sent you. And also an incomplete address for Alex. However I suppose you’ll soon be settled and feeling better about Alex’s leaving. 

I think Alex is very luck to have gotten into the Navy. I wish I had myself. Basic Training in the Engineers is very tough – and since I am the grandfather of the company it’s tougher on me. The work is actually hard. Later I’ll be building bridges, digging ditches, etc. ME!! 

I’m glad you are with Mama. tell her there is nohurry about the slipover – and tell her that sheshouldn’t use too thick a wool. A light one would be fine. 

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In any case tell her not to worry about it. 

The things one misses most in here is time. Time to think, to breathe, to rest, or just to smoke. You’re always being hustled. Today is Sunday and we hav a couple of hours off. Of course, you really can’t sit around as you’ve got to do a lot of things, such as cleaning up, polishing shoes, straightening up the foot-locker, catching up with correspondence, etc. Of course, you’re never alone — and I used to like solitude, and still do. 

I don’t suppose that you are going to have much time yourself. However it would be nice if I heard from you regularly. Home ties become stronger, or rather the need for them becomes greater in the army. You can see with what great reluctance I am dropping my civilian ties. Have to close now as you can see by referring to the preceding paragraph. 

Where’s my sense of humor gone to? Woe is me – Al.