Brief aan Andries Bonger before 1925

This undated letter was written by Emile Bernard. The stark contrast between the blue ink and the pale background immediately draws the eye, creating a strong visual field reminiscent of early modernist sketches. Bernard fills the surface with dense, almost rhythmic lines, not just conveying a message but crafting a visual texture. The handwritten text becomes a field of signs and forms; each stroke of the pen a conscious mark that contributes to the overall composition. This can be seen as a move towards the symbolist style as well. The act of writing, therefore, isn’t just communication. It is a physical and intellectual engagement with the material, a way to explore form through language. Consider how Bernard disrupts conventional communication by emphasizing the physical act of writing. This piece challenges our understanding of text, suggesting that it can be viewed as a field of artistic expression. It invites us to reconsider the boundaries between writing, drawing, and visual art.