Brief aan Jan Veth Possibly 1902 - 1912

This is a letter by Max Liebermann to Jan Veth, written in 1902. Look at the pressure of the pen as it travels across the page! It's clear Liebermann isn't just relaying information, but feeling his way through each word, each line. The ink almost pools in places, creating these dark, emphatic marks, like he’s trying to reach out and touch Jan Veth, even at a distance. The surface of the paper seems to absorb the ink, creating a kind of intimacy, like he's whispering secrets. I can almost feel the texture, slightly rough and absorbent, pulling at the nib of the pen. It’s not a casual note dashed off in a hurry. Each word is carefully formed, yet there's also a fluidity, a rhythm to the handwriting. It’s this dance between control and spontaneity that I find so compelling. Liebermann's letter reminds me of Van Gogh's letters to his brother Theo, where the act of writing becomes a form of artistic expression in itself. Both artists seem to understand art as an ongoing conversation, a way of connecting with others across time and space.