Brief aan Jan Veth 1874 - 1918

Wally Moes penned this letter to Jan Veth sometime in the late 19th or early 20th century. It's a glimpse into the world of artistic exchange, rendered with ink on paper. The material itself, paper, speaks volumes. It was a mass-produced substrate, the very ground for both commerce and correspondence. Notice the handwriting too, it's full of loops and flourishes, evidence of Moes's hand, and the directness of her communication. The ink, likely iron gall, has a permanence that suggests the importance of the message. Letters like this one offer us a tangible connection to the past, revealing the networks of artists and intellectuals. It reminds us that even in the age of mechanical reproduction, the personal touch remains powerful. They reflect an artistic milieu, and the material conditions that sustained it. The letter transcends the divide between art and craft, revealing the intimate labor involved in the creation and circulation of ideas.