Brief aan Jan Veth Possibly 1893 - 1898

This is a letter written by Willem Witsen to Jan Veth in 1895, using paper and ink. We see the material qualities immediately: the way the ink bleeds slightly into the fibres, the soft, warm tone of the paper, and the texture of the page itself, giving a sense of age and history. The letter form itself is interesting to consider. Handwriting, of course, is a direct expression of the author, linking thought to action in an immediate way. This contrasts sharply with the detachment of industrialised printing. The flow of the pen across the page, the varying pressure and rhythm, speaks to the character of the writer, but it also shows the labour involved, and the social dynamics of communication at this time. Before mass communication, personal correspondence like this was a vital thread in the social fabric. It's a reminder of the value of craft, not just in art objects, but in the everyday practices that shape our lives.