Brief aan jonkheer Hendrik Teding van Berkhout (1879-1969) Possibly 1933

This letter was composed by Adriaan J. van 't Hoff in January 1933. It’s a great example of mark-making; a flurry of cursive strokes build up each word, each sentence, and the entire piece is a triumph of process, of words accumulated on the page. There's something about the physical nature of this letter, the paper itself, and the ink that gives it so much feeling. Look how the ink pools in certain spots, creating a delicate texture. And note the way the writing curls, loops, and leans, the individual gestures adding to the rhythm of the whole. The signature at the bottom right is especially revealing, a flourish of the pen with all the confidence of a painter applying a final stroke. You can see in the handwriting, the artist’s hand in motion. This document shares a sensibility with the precise and controlled line work of someone like Alighiero Boetti. Both artists demonstrate the power of systematic mark-making, transforming simple gestures into complex and meaningful forms. The act of making becomes a meditation, a way of thinking and feeling through art.