Brief aan anoniem 1904 - 1909

This letter was written in September 1904. The text is a printed invitation, likely written with a fountain pen and ink. I wonder how many copies were printed, and if the recipients knew each other? What might they have thought when they received it? Bertha L. Norman is listed as a secretary on the committee. I imagine her in a small, cozy office, carefully composing the letter, making sure the tone is just right – respectful, yet warm. She’s thinking about Mrs. Mesdag-Van Houten and what this gesture will mean to her. She hopes it’s a celebration that truly captures the spirit of their appreciation. Did Bertha know Mrs. Mesdag-Van Houten well, or was she simply tasked with the job? Painters often work as secretaries, and secretaries as painters. It's a parallel process of making your mark. This reminds me that we are all in conversation with each other, creatively speaking, and that every act of expression adds to the ongoing dialogue, inspiring new visions and possibilities.