Prentbriefkaart aan Anne Marie Louise van der Linden before 1908

Curator: Here we have a prentbriefkaart, that's postcard in Dutch, addressed to Anne Marie Louise van der Linden, penned by Emile Bernard, sometime before 1908. It's ink on paper, a small and rather unassuming Post-Impressionist artifact. Editor: It's funny, isn't it? How something so seemingly mundane—an old postcard—can feel like holding a little piece of someone else's world in your hands. It feels strangely intimate. Curator: Precisely! Bernard, although somewhat overshadowed by his contemporaries like Gauguin and van Gogh, played a key role in the Post-Impressionist movement. This postcard provides us with insight into the artist's communication during that period, revealing the personal networks that sustained the artistic milieu. Editor: I am drawn to its raw, almost vulnerable, nature. Look at the handwriting itself—it gives a kind of texture that smooth font wouldn't. He mentions monasteries and valleys and asking if they are inspiring other artists. Curator: Bernard's correspondence reveals his creative thoughts and personal connections. His network provided emotional and practical support, which underpinned the advancement of modern art. He used it as a means of expression, blending art and life. The postcard functioned both as a personal note and an artifact imbued with artistic significance. Editor: You’re right. And there's the context of postcards themselves. In that era, it was such a novel, affordable way to connect. These miniature artworks traversing countries, bearing witness to everyday life, personal thoughts—it humanizes history so much more. Curator: Absolutely, and we are able to glimpse into it now. It reminds me of the importance of correspondence as an art form. They aren't always about monumental paintings but smaller acts that fostered artistic dialogues and collaborations, right? Editor: I think I get a different perspective on Bernard’s other works seeing his voice like this. Less about form, more about…yearning. A little melancholic but also curious. It helps peel back the layers to understanding him better. Curator: This small rectangle, almost lost in time, speaks volumes about artistic sociability. We realize how that world was created thanks to the daily life materials. A brief postcard.