Brief aan Richard Roland Holst Possibly 1924 - 1925

Curator: We’re looking at Willem van Konijnenburg's "Brief aan Richard Roland Holst," likely from 1924 or 1925. It's rendered primarily in pen and ink. My eye immediately jumps to this striking camel in the foreground. What's your initial reaction? Editor: Rawness. The immediate, sketch-like quality—the evident pressure of the pen on paper—draws me to the making. You can see where Konijnenburg worked and reworked his lines, particularly around the camel’s head and the implied cityscape in the background. It speaks volumes about process. Curator: Absolutely. The camel is the most detailed aspect, yet the cityscape provides a hazy backdrop—an intriguing blend of specific focus and dreamy, almost absent detail. To me, it almost feels like a memory surfacing. Editor: Or perhaps it is referencing something directly – maybe a building he had recently been making sketches of. The work is titled "Letter to Richard Roland Holst," and knowing that both men were deeply involved in the Arts and Crafts movement, I wonder if there are notes about the difficulties of construction? Perhaps notes on budget? Curator: That makes perfect sense. Seeing this piece, I am also reminded of Konijnenburg's broader symbolist tendencies and his preoccupation with depicting spiritual journeys. Editor: Agreed. Beyond the technical, one could discuss the economic aspects – the access to these drawing materials like pen and ink are a reflection of resources, which is what makes works like this survive and continue to inspire discussion about their form. Curator: Well, for me, it feels more like an intuitive exploration of form—less structured, but deeply evocative of a place and time. Maybe a correspondence, maybe a symbolist dream. Editor: Yes, the ambiguity and how this image invites viewers to actively participate is indeed remarkable. I will still continue to admire the materiality involved in the artist's craft. Curator: And I, its slightly melancholic and deeply personal aura.