Brief aan L. van den Broeke Possibly 1924

This letter to L. van den Broeke was written in 1924 by Jan Toorop. I'm drawn to the movement in Toorop’s handwriting, each stroke a deliberate yet fluid gesture across the page. It reminds me that artmaking, like writing, is a process of discovery, of allowing the hand to lead the way. Look closely, and you'll notice the texture of the paper, the way the ink bleeds slightly, creating these tiny halos around each word. There is a particular loop in the signature, a flourish that seems to capture the artist's energy, and reminds me how a single mark can contain so much. The density of the writing creates a landscape of its own, with peaks and valleys of meaning and emotion. I see echoes of Van Gogh in the expressiveness of Toorop's hand. It's like they're both part of a larger conversation, each responding to the other across time. Ultimately, this piece reminds me that art is not about fixed meanings but about opening up a space for interpretation.