Concetbrief aan jonkvrouw Elisabeth Wilhelmina Malwina de Brauw after 1931

This letter to Elisabeth Wilhelmina Malwina de Brauw was written by Andries Bonger in Amsterdam. The ink is a deep black that pools and thins in places, evidence of its own movement across the page, like dark water. I’m drawn to the intimacy of the script, the way the words seem to huddle together, almost shyly. It reminds me of my own process - how a single mark can lead to another, and another, each one building upon the last. Look closely, and you'll see how the ink bleeds slightly into the paper, blurring the edges of the letters. It’s a beautiful reminder that art is not just about precision but also about embracing the unpredictable nature of materials. I particularly love the flourishes in the signature; they remind me that even in something as functional as a letter, there's room for personality and play. The way Bonger fills the page, this reminds me of Cy Twombly's frantic mark-making; both capture a sense of urgency and raw energy. This is a personal communication, but also feels like a broader gesture, a reaching out across time. Art, in all its forms, is an ongoing conversation.