Brief aan Andries Bonger before 1896

This is a letter to Andries Bonger, penned by Émile Bernard. Its visual impact is immediately intimate: the pale paper is filled with cursive lines, and the ink’s gentle purplish hue creates a sense of warmth and personal connection. The text unfolds as a semiotic structure, where each word functions as a sign. Bernard communicates practical details of travel plans, yet the very act of handwriting itself evokes a sense of presence and intimacy that transcends its informational content. The careful script, the varying pressure of the pen, and the way words cluster together all reveal a deliberate, personal touch. Note how the handwriting becomes a form in itself. Its flowing lines and rhythmic spacing form an aesthetic pattern that underscores the letter's purpose beyond pure communication. This interplay between form and content destabilizes the notion of language as purely functional, inviting reflection on its expressive potential. We are reminded that the letter is not simply a message but also a carefully constructed object imbued with Bernard’s personal mark, a testament to human connection.