Brief aan Jan Veth Possibly 1896

This handwritten letter by Max Liebermann to Jan Veth, created in 1896, offers a peek into the artistic dialogues of the time. The dominant symbol here is, of course, the written word itself. The act of writing, particularly in this flowing script, was once a powerful emblem of intellect and connection, a means of bridging distances both physical and emotional. Consider the evolution of script across cultures—from sacred hieroglyphs to the personal touch of a handwritten note. Each stroke carries the weight of intention, much like the artist's brushstroke. This exchange evokes the primal human desire to communicate, to leave a lasting trace of oneself. The letter, in this sense, becomes a time capsule, holding the echoes of shared ideas and personal interactions, inviting us to contemplate the enduring power of human expression.