Brief aan Emile Ernest Bernard en Héloïse Bernard-Bodin 1878 - 1941

Written in 1899 by the French artist Emile Bernard, this letter to his parents reflects the anxieties of a son concerned for their well-being. Bernard was a Post-Impressionist painter, but in this personal correspondence, we see the intersection of family life and the pressures of the era. France at the turn of the century was a society undergoing rapid change, and the concerns expressed here – illness, distance, and the desire for family connection – resonate with the social realities of the time. This letter reminds us that even artists deeply embedded in institutional settings like galleries and salons, were also members of a broader community. Understanding this artwork involves looking into family archives, personal letters, and social histories to understand the intimate context of artistic production. By exploring the life circumstances of artists, we can better understand the dynamic relationship between art and society.