Brief aan F.E. Posthumus Meyjes Possibly 1919

This letter to F.E. Posthumus Meyjes was written by Jan Veth in Brussels on February 15th, 1919. The ink is a lovely dark blue, almost black, and you can see the pressure of the nib on the page, how it swells and tapers with each stroke. It's like a dance, this writing, a physical act of communication. Look at the way the letters lean and connect, forming words and phrases that must have been so important to Veth at that moment. The writing is dense, compact, and full of energy, with words almost tumbling over each other. The stamp adds another layer, like a ghostly echo of officialdom. Thinking about Veth as a writer, I am reminded of the poet and painter William Blake, who also combined text and image in his work. In both cases, it's about a complete vision, a way of expressing ideas that goes beyond the limitations of any single medium. Ultimately, this letter is a reminder that art is always a conversation, a back-and-forth between the artist and the world, full of questions and possibilities.