Brief aan Héloïse Bernard-Bodin Possibly 1896 - 1899

This is a letter written in 1896 by the French artist Emile Bernard to Héloïse Bernard-Bodin, likely his mother. It's penned in French, and the rapid, informal handwriting suggests a personal, rather than professional, communication. Bernard was associated with the Post-Impressionist avant-garde, and these movements challenged the established norms of the French Academy. His artistic circle questioned traditional academic training and sought new forms of expression. Letters can be seen as primary sources, offering invaluable insight into the social conditions that shape artistic production. Scholars might examine it alongside Bernard's paintings and writings, archival records of exhibitions, and contemporary reviews to understand the complex interplay of personal experience, artistic innovation, and institutional critique in late 19th-century France. Through careful study, we can better understand the context in which his art was made and received.