Brief aan Andries Bonger before 1892

This is a letter penned by Emile Bernard in 1892 to Andries Bonger, etched with ink on paper. The symbolic weight here lies not in overt imagery but in the raw expression of emotion, laid bare through the act of writing itself. The themes of melancholy, despair, and the brutal shock of transposed sensations resonate through Bernard’s words. These echo sentiments found in ancient texts, where the written word was often imbued with the power to both express and alleviate profound psychological states. We see similar sentiments in the writings of Sappho, where her verses served as an outlet for intense emotions, just as Bernard's letter functions here. The act of writing, particularly in moments of emotional intensity, becomes a symbolic gesture—a reaching out, a grappling with inner turmoil. Consider how the physical act of putting pen to paper has been perceived across cultures, from sacred scribes meticulously copying religious texts to individuals pouring their hearts out in diaries. Each stroke becomes a tangible manifestation of the inner self, a testament to the enduring human need to make sense of our emotional landscape through symbolic expression. This letter is a powerful echo of that timeless impulse.