Initiaal T 1884 - 1952

This is Initiaal T, by Reinier Willem Petrus de Vries, made sometime in the early 20th century. It's a drawing on paper, and it strikes me how much the process is right there on the surface. Look closely, and you can almost see the artist figuring things out as he goes. The ink isn't trying to hide anything. It's like he's saying, "Here's how I make a letter, here's how I fill it with flowers." The thickness of the ink, the way it pools in certain spots, gives it a real weight, a presence. There’s a flower right in the middle, surrounded by a swirl of ink, that feels like the heart of the whole image. It's both contained and wild, like the best art. De Vries reminds me a little of Hilma af Klint, another artist who wasn't afraid to mix the mystical with the everyday. This isn't just an initial; it's a whole world in miniature.