Monday, February 23, 2009

Heloise and Abelard; the power of letters


“…we are much fonder of the pictures of those we love when they are at a great distance than when they are near us. It seems to me as if the farther they are removed their pictures grow the more finished, and acquire a greater resemblance; or least our imagination, which perpetually figures them to us by the desire we have of seeing them again, makes us think so.


… If a picture, which is but a mute representation of an object, can give such pleasure, what cannot letters inspire?

They have souls;


They can speak


they have in them all that force which expresses the transports of the heart;

they have all the fire of our passions,
they can raise them as much as if the person themselves were present;

they have all the tenderness and the delicacy of speech,

and sometimes even a boldness of expression beyond it."

As promised.

Photos are from here, here, here and here. I am so enamoured with all of these photographers. My flickr favourites are filled with them.

I love the art of letter writing with a passion, and I miss it the romance and artistry of constructing something so beautiful out of the written word. This weekend my best friend and I explored a beautiful forgotten little stationary shop in a laneway in the city, and I almost blew my weeks pay buying supplies. There is something so fullfilling in writing a letter; in paper and ink and envelopes stuffed with secrets.

You can read more of H&A's love letters here.

xS

5 comments:

Pattie said...

These pictures are wonderful, and I love the art of writing (though I have none of it, but still try lol). My boyfriend and I are in a long distance relationship and I don't have a phone, so we send each other letters, I really love them all :)

Anonymous said...

hauntingly beautiful pictures...

Unknown said...

oh my god this is so beautiful- i love it... H+A...

TheNewHeloise said...

I'm glad you like! :)
Heloise and Abelard have always interested me, but in Australia they are less celebrated.
They're love story is tragic, beautiful, and a little disturbing at the same time.
And their correspondence is magical...
xS

Poshhh said...

you have such a gorgeous blog..i love it
xx