Brief aan het Bestuur van de Nederlandse Etsclub Possibly 1889

Curator: Before us, we have "Brief aan het Bestuur van de Nederlandse Etsclub," or "Letter to the Board of the Dutch Etching Club," potentially dating to 1889, crafted by Willem Bastiaan Tholen. It resides at the Rijksmuseum. Editor: My first impression? It feels so... human. So vulnerable. Like a little piece of someone's heart left out in the open, written with ink on paper. Look, the edges are aged! Makes you wonder what kind of drama unfolded. Curator: Indeed. Tholen was part of the Hague School, and this letter represents more than just a polite resignation. The etching club had rigid views on acceptable artistic styles, and in choosing to depart, Tholen signaled a larger shift in the Dutch art scene, a rebellion against artistic conservatism. Editor: Rigid, eh? Always with the rules! It makes me wanna grab some ink myself and make a joyful mess just to counter that. But the handwriting itself is so elegant! See those flourishes? It's a carefully penned goodbye, a controlled burn. Curator: Absolutely, the careful penmanship is revealing. Despite disagreeing with the institution, Tholen maintains a level of respect in his form, reflective of the social and artistic climate. One can even see how membership was fundamental to one's career trajectory and network, in that time period. Editor: Career, schmeer-eer, I always say. No, but seriously. There is sadness there, don’t you think? This resignation likely came with consequences to his network. Still, it’s awesome to witness a stand being taken – even if it is communicated with proper cursive! I see both reluctance and resolve in this piece, wouldn't you agree? Curator: Precisely. The piece allows us to contextualize tensions between artistic innovation and institutional gatekeeping. What feels particularly pertinent, even today, is the recurring negotiation between established artistic norms and the necessity of breaking them to allow for creative freedom. Editor: I agree! It makes you realize that leaving a club, sending an email or making a big change isn’t just a practical decision, it's an artistic act, right? A work of self-expression, whether he intended it to be or not. Curator: Indeed, analyzing this work underscores how even a simple letter can function as a microcosm of broader social and artistic movements. Editor: So, here is to messy beautiful goodbyes then! Now I am in the mood for change and writing.