Brief aan Saar de Swart 1878 - 1941

This letter was written by Émile Bernard, likely towards the end of the 19th century, to Saar de Swart. It gives us a glimpse into the social and artistic networks of the time. Bernard, associated with Post-Impressionism and Cloisonnism, engages here in a more personal exchange. The letter reveals a great deal about the institutional life of art at the time and the conditions of patronage. The letter discusses practical matters, like his stay at the home of Signora Aquilina Nencini in Florence, and problems with a piece of furniture. These kinds of details can illuminate the economic realities of artists and the importance of personal connections in the art world. To understand this letter fully, one might consult Bernard's biographies, correspondence, and exhibition records. It is these connections that enable us to understand the meaning of art as contingent on social and institutional context.