Brief aan Andries Bonger Possibly 1897

Here is a letter written by Emile Bernard on December 25, 1897, to Andries Bonger. This correspondence offers a window into the personal and professional life of an artist deeply embedded in the Post-Impressionist movement. Bernard's words reflect a sense of longing and anticipation, "Briefly, let me send you from my distant country." We can speculate about the artist's emotions at the time. Was it difficult for him to be far from his friends? Was it a cultural milieu that he struggled to adjust to? This letter isn't just a personal note; it's a historical artifact that allows us to examine the networks of artists, collectors, and thinkers who shaped the art world at the turn of the century. As a queer woman, I consider how lines of communication, like this letter, create community across distance. We are reminded that personal correspondence has the power to create a space for intimacy and reflection.