Brief aan Héloïse Bernard-Bodin Possibly 1895 - 1898

This is a letter written by Emile Bernard to Héloïse Bernard-Bodin in 1895. Here, Bernard details his day-to-day life and gives his opinions on another artist's photography. Bernard was involved in the Post-Impressionist movement in France, a period when artists were increasingly self-conscious about the institutions of art. As an art historian, I note how in the late 19th century, painting had become increasingly commodified and was driven by powerful art dealers and critics. The references in the letter to his daily life give us a glimpse into the social conditions that shaped his artistic output. We can see how he saw himself as a modern individual, who saw the institutions around him, such as the art market, as potential constraints on his personal freedom. By studying sources like letters, we can get insights into the relationship between art and its social and institutional context.