Brief aan Françoise W.M. Bonger Possibly 1969

This letter was composed on April 9, 1969, by G. Klockenbring, and addressed to Madame Bonger. I can just imagine the nib of the pen scratching across the page, the artist carefully forming each letter, each word a deliberate stroke in a written composition. It’s intriguing to think about what Klockenbring was thinking and feeling as they wrote. Maybe a mix of admiration and vulnerability as he expresses his appreciation for the work of Odilon Redon and enthusiasm for her archive. The texture of the paper and ink—these material aspects speak to the intimacy of the correspondence. The artist is in conversation with another person, sharing ideas and feelings, and connecting through the written word. In this way, the letter becomes a form of embodied expression, a way of reaching out and connecting with another soul. Just like painting, it is open to multiple interpretations.