Brief aan Héloïse Bernard-Bodin c. 1894 - 1897

This letter was penned by Emile Bernard in June 1895. It's ink on paper – a humble, everyday combination, yet pregnant with meaning. The letter's material simplicity belies its significance. The paper itself, lined and likely mass-produced, speaks to the increasing accessibility of communication. Yet, the handwritten script, full of personal flourishes, asserts individuality. Bernard’s choice of a direct, unfiltered medium underscores the immediacy of his message. There’s an inherent intimacy in a handwritten letter, a direct connection between sender and receiver, thoughts flowing directly from mind to page. This contrasts sharply with the industrialized world, from which the paper emerged. The act of writing, a slow and deliberate craft, becomes a subtle act of resistance against the relentless pace of mechanization. This reminds us that even the most commonplace materials and processes can carry profound social and cultural weight.