Brief aan onbekend, mogelijk August Allebé Possibly 1925 - 1929

This letter, written by Jac van Looij in 1925, unfolds like a personal sketch in ink on paper. Can you see how the artist carefully forms the letter, pressing down with the pen to make thick lines? Imagine Van Looij at his desk, perhaps reflecting on his life and career. You know, he is writing to his friend August Allebé on the occasion of his 70th birthday. Notice how the script is looping and flowing with subtle variations in pressure and speed. I wonder if he paused, pen in hand, to consider his words, maybe even scratching out phrases, searching for just the right sentiment. It reminds me of how artists build up layers of paint, each stroke a response to the one before. You can tell that Van Looij is probably thinking about his own practice, acknowledging that the act of writing has become less familiar than painting. This letter becomes a meditation on aging and the changing relationship to one's craft, echoing the universal experience of artists across generations. It's a reminder that we're all in conversation, and exchanging ideas across time, inspiring one another's creativity.