Brief aan Jan Veth 1875 - 1925

This is a letter written by Isaac Israels on June 16th, 1894. During the late 19th century, artists like Israels were navigating a rapidly changing art world, caught between tradition and modernity. Here, Israels pens a note to Jan Veth, likely a fellow artist or critic, critiquing what he sees as a lack of experience or perhaps an overreliance on tradition. He contrasts the conventional with his preference for the unvarnished, the 'un-Michelangelo-like elephants.' There's a call for authenticity, for embracing the raw and imperfect, over the polished and idealized. The letter hints at the dynamics within the art world at the time, the tension between established norms and emerging avant-garde sensibilities. It’s a personal glimpse into Israels' artistic values and his desire to break from the constraints of academic expectations. It speaks to the emotional weight of artistic expression, the courage required to defy expectations.