Brief aan Andries Bonger before 1894

Emile Bernard penned this letter to Andries Bonger on a sheet of paper, a common medium for personal correspondence. The material itself—paper—is humble. Its texture, weight, and color offer a direct contrast to the intellectual weight of Bernard's words. The act of handwriting further personalizes the letter. Each stroke of the pen, each carefully formed word, carries the artist's intentions, emotions, and thoughts. Paper, in its mass-produced form, links to broader social issues of literacy and communication during Bernard's time. The letter's contents reflect on the social and artistic circles he navigated. The labor involved is not in grand artistic gestures, but in the intimate act of crafting a message, of sharing his inner world with a friend. By emphasizing the significance of the paper and the process of handwriting, we recognize the value of everyday materials and practices. They offer insight into an artist's life and challenge traditional distinctions between fine art and craft.