Briefkaart aan Andries Bonger before 1916

This is a postcard to Andries Bonger by Emile Bernard. It has dense text that fills the entire card, written in French. Look at how each line of text seems to be a continuous stroke, all linked up – it’s like the words are holding hands! This flow reminds me of how art-making can be a stream of consciousness, one thing leading to another without a break. The ink is dark, maybe black or a deep grey, and the pressure varies, giving the writing a kind of rhythm. You can almost feel Bernard’s hand moving across the card, deciding where to pause, where to push harder. There’s a casualness here, like he’s just letting his thoughts spill out. I’m reminded of Cy Twombly's scribbly paintings; they share that same sense of immediacy and unfiltered expression. Both artists let their hands lead the way, embracing the messiness and the beauty of process. With a piece like this, you realise art is just one big conversation, people talking to each other across time, using marks and gestures instead of words.