Brief aan Jan Veth Possibly 1916

This is a letter from Jac van Looij to Jan Veth, written in 1918. The ink is dark, almost black, against the light paper, and it's this stark contrast that grabs my attention. There’s a rhythm to the handwriting, a sense of urgency, but also control. It's almost like a musical score, the lines rising and falling across the page. Looking at the letter, I’m drawn to the way certain words are emphasized through heavier strokes or a slight change in slant, a little crescendo or decrescendo in the flow of the text. It reminds me that writing, like painting, is a physical act. It's not just about conveying information, but about the gesture, the pressure of the pen on the paper, the way the ink bleeds into the fibers. Van Looij’s letter reminds me a little of the writings of Vincent van Gogh, particularly the letters to his brother Theo, which also blend personal reflection with observations on art and life. Like those letters, this one gives us a glimpse into the mind of an artist, revealing the connections between their thoughts, their work, and their relationships with the world around them. It’s a beautiful reminder that art is always a conversation.