Brief aan Jan Veth Possibly 1911

Curator: Here we have "Brief aan Jan Veth," a letter, likely from 1911, by Cornelis Gerardus 't Hooft. It's ink on paper, showcasing a beautiful example of calligraphy. Editor: The overall feeling I get is one of intense concentration. The density of the script, the way the ink almost bleeds into the paper in places... it speaks of urgency. Curator: I find that so interesting. Considering the limitations of writing materials at the time, and how precious paper would have been, there’s a sense of deliberate craft, almost a performance. Editor: Absolutely. The letter *is* the medium. 't Hooft isn't simply conveying information; the act of writing itself becomes part of the message. Look at the density of the lines, how they cluster. Was there a scarcity of paper or was this the author's usual style? Curator: It raises questions about the social context too. Jan Veth was an important artist and critic. This letter suggests a professional and likely personal connection between the two, reflecting the cultural circles they inhabited. What kind of artistic dialogue would these men be involved in, during the first world war era? Editor: A connection manifested through the materiality of ink and paper! And to consider how this physical object – a letter – then circulated within those networks, influencing ideas... I would say this artefact acts as a social and intellectual thread that pulls together diverse people. Curator: Indeed. A hand-written letter is a physical trace of the artist's hand, unlike digital mediums today. This really emphasizes the labor and care involved in artistic exchange at that time. Editor: This isn't simply a piece of information; it's a relic with a great tale. You almost feel like you have broken some kind of boundary when seeing such intimate communication! Curator: Precisely! This little snippet from a long lost artistic conversation holds its own presence to us.