Brief aan Héloïse Bernard-Bodin after 1899

This is a letter by Emile Bernard, dating back to 1899 or 1900, written to his mother. In this informal note, Bernard touches on themes of self-expression, the desire for artistic continuation, and the challenges of being understood and accepted as an artist. Bernard was writing during a time of significant social and cultural upheaval. As a Post-Impressionist painter, his career was unfolding amidst debates about artistic convention and modernism. His personal struggles, as articulated in this letter, reflect broader tensions of the time. He yearns to continue painting, despite feeling misunderstood or limited by others' perspectives. He writes that only those who have thought or written like Descartes would be able to justify his passion. The emotional weight of this piece comes from a space of vulnerability, where Bernard grapples with the desire to create and the difficulties of navigating external expectations. This letter offers us an intimate glimpse into the artist's inner world.