To A. P. Lensky, 20 February 1889. Moscow.
А. П. ЛЕНСКОМУ, Около 20 февраля 1889 г. Москва.
Headnote
1 Written from Moscow around 20 February 1889, this very short note to the actor Alexander Pavlovich Lensky is a letter of introduction: it sends the painter Sakharov, bearer of the note, to Lensky in person to ask about exhibiting his picture "The Train Wreck," a request Chekhov had already raised with Lensky before an earlier trip to Petersburg.
2 After the dateline (1), Chekhov identifies the bearer of the note as the painter Sakharov, whom he says he had already mentioned to Lensky before leaving for Petersburg; Sakharov has brought his picture "The Train Wreck" and is looking for somewhere to show it, and Chekhov notes he had already recommended one of the halls of the "Society of Art" – an abbreviated reference to the same institution – for the purpose (2). He asks Lensky to tell Sakharov directly where and to whom he should apply (3), sends respects to Lensky’s wife (4), and closes with a warm valediction, signature, and a brief apology for the imposition (5-7).