Brief aan Jan Veth Possibly 1890

This is a letter written by Johannes de Koo, dating back to December 23, 1890. It presents itself as a study in contrasts – the rigid structure of language against the fluid strokes of the artist's hand. Note how the vertical lines of the script create a sense of order, yet the slight variations in pressure and the individual flourishes disrupt any sense of perfect uniformity. This interplay between order and disorder invites us to consider the artist's state of mind, caught between the desire for clear communication and the inherent messiness of human expression. Furthermore, the stark contrast between the dark ink and the pale paper creates a visual tension, a push and pull that mirrors the complexities of the written word itself. It challenges us to look beyond the literal meaning of the words and engage with the aesthetic qualities of the letter as a constructed object.