Brief aan onbekend Possibly 1932

Editor: This drawing, "Brief aan onbekend" - or "Letter to an Unknown" - created around 1932 by Andries Bonger, is crafted with ink on paper. It looks like an old letter. The handwriting gives it a really intimate, almost secretive feeling. What can you tell me about this work? Curator: It's like stumbling upon a forgotten whisper, isn't it? Bonger captures that raw emotion inherent in personal correspondence. Look at the delicate lines—each stroke seems deliberate, filled with unspoken feelings. It feels deeply personal, almost intrusive to observe such an intimate act. What does the French convey to you? Editor: It seems to be about the passing of someone named Etuna and regrets about informing her friend of this… A rather gloomy topic, indeed. Curator: Gloomy, perhaps, but consider it a glimpse into a shared human experience. Death, loss, remembrance - Bonger isn't shying away. It’s quite interesting that he decides to deliver this private correspondence, written in French, into a raw piece of art. The text becomes line and form. In fact, without our knowing French, it almost takes an abstract form! Editor: I guess that makes sense, and how words on paper transform into shapes on the canvas to relay complex, intimate emotions… It's a kind of a coded message, I suppose. Thanks, I feel like I’m getting a new view on seeing beyond just words in art. Curator: Absolutely! Every brushstroke, every letter penned contributes to the depth. Hopefully now, when you look at works that incorporate words, you can hear them differently.