By Josie Osborne, Campus News Editor
As we approach the middle of Love Month, lovers everywhere are reminded of those they hold dear and frantically search for ways to display their affections.
In the age of technology, with time moving quicker than ever, many resort to digital Valentine cards and messages that often feel sent without a second thought. But before the 21st century’s modern ways, lovers still existed—I argue, they even flourished. In the era of pen and paper, of ink and quill, lovers poured their hearts into their scrawl and truly meant it.
Before exploring the archives of lovers passed, it is important to note that love is not always romantic. Love can be consuming and sensual, or it can bloom amongst platonic embraces and innocent hand-holding between family and friends.
Some of the most beautiful love letters seen in history are those of Napoleon Bonapart, emperor of France. While Napoleon is often viewed as a ruthless, brutal conqueror, he too was a lover.
Addressed to Josephine, his wife, Bonapart (often signed B) wrote letters incessantly during his departure, detailing his yearning and longing for her. Many letters end with a tender remark, “A thousand loving kisses.” While their time together was short and troubled, one cannot deny the passion Bonapart once expressed was anything less than lovely.
Joelle Peppe, a junior history major at the University of South Florida, emphasizes the importance of Bonapart’s letters.
“Coming from someone that seemed above all else, there is something so human about his writing,” Peppe says. “Even though he held of position of immense power, he still experienced love.”
Almost a century later, the letters of Vincent Van Gogh, famous painter and lover, demonstrate the platonic love shared between him and his younger brother, Theo. Vincent is known for having a stormy, difficult life, but when all else failed, Theo was his shoulder.
A majority of the letters recorded from Vincent—over 600 of the almost 900–were addressed to Theo, writing to him almost every other day in the later years of his life. He often signs his letters “Your loving brother” or “Ever yours” once he has finished describing a plethora of little things from what he was painting, how he was feeling, who he has accompanied: anything and everything.
Maeve Kiley, a senior English major at Saint Leo, recently started an internship with the art department.
“Although I am an English major, I’ve always had a great love for all artistic things. After taking art classes here as electives, that love was solidified,” Kiley says. “I am honored to be a part of the art department here and share my love for art.”
One of the classes where Kiley’s love for art blossomed was Ideas and Explorations: Vincent Van Gogh. Here, Kiley learned not only about the art movements that influenced Van Gogh, such as Impressionism and Post-Impressionism, but the intricacies of his life thanks to a variety of records.
“Although we are blessed to have a great portion of information about Van Gogh’s life through his letters, paintings, and historical paintings, parts of him are still a mystery,” Kiley recalls.
“What is not a mystery, however, is that Vincent deeply loved his brother Theo and their bond never broke, even though many times, they were a great deal of distance away from each other,” says Kiley. “The letters allowed them to not just confide each other but also keep that bond alive and flourishing.”
That is not to say love letters are dead; in fact, the Netflix original series X.O. Kitty, spin off of the original movie series To All the Boys I’ve Loved Before, just released a second season last month.
While it may require just a bit of time and effort, letters and their message often outlive the sender, as shown by the example above. Therefore, during this season of love, I encourage you to sit down and write a real, physical letter to someone you care for and embrace being a lover.
