Brief aan Andries Bonger before 1897

This is a letter by Émile Bernard, likely from the late 19th or early 20th century. The page is filled edge-to-edge with handwriting. The lines of script are uniform, creating a dense, textured field across the page. The ink appears faded, giving the writing a delicate quality, heightening the sense of intimacy. The overall composition is a study in contrasts: the rigid grid of the lined paper versus the fluid, organic forms of the handwriting. The linear structure provides a foundation upon which Bernard’s thoughts unfold, suggesting a tension between order and spontaneity, control and expression. In its time, such a personal document would have been a vital means of connection. Today, in its antiquated form, it prompts us to reflect on how the structure of language and communication shapes our understanding of the world. It serves as a powerful reminder that even the most personal expressions are structured by conventions and technologies. The act of writing itself is a structured process.