Prentbriefkaart aan Andries Bonger

This is a postcard, likely from 1908, written by the French artist Émile Bernard to Andries Bonger, a Dutch art collector and friend of Vincent van Gogh. Bernard's note provides a glimpse into his life and travels, offering a personal reflection on the places he visited. He was, along with artists like Gauguin and Van Gogh, at the forefront of Post-Impressionism, a movement that valued subjective expression and the symbolic use of color. The vivid imagery in his written description mirrors the artistic movement he was a part of. He says: "I am back on the road in Brittany. Visited Rennes where there are very strange houses, slate roofs..." The postcard format itself is a fascinating object. It democratized art by making images and personal communication accessible to a wider audience. It’s a portable piece of history that connects individuals across geographical and cultural boundaries. Bernard's postcard serves as a reminder of the intimate connections and exchanges that fueled artistic innovation at the turn of the 20th century.