Brief aan Pieter Haverkorn van Rijsewijk Possibly 1906

This letter, penned by Wilhelm von Bode to Pieter Haverkorn van Rijsewijk, feels like a quick sketch—a flurry of thoughts jotted down with ink on paper. Just imagine Bode's hand moving across the page, each stroke capturing his train of thought! Looking at the strokes, I feel I’m standing right behind him, watching the words unfold. Did he pause, mid-sentence, to gather his thoughts? Did he cross out words, change his mind, or add emphasis with a heavier line? These material aspects of the letter offer so many clues. The ink almost seems to bleed into the paper, which conveys a sense of urgency, or maybe just deep concentration, on Bode’s part. It makes you think about the tradition of letter-writing, doesn’t it? All artists are in conversation, picking up where others leave off, and this letter gives a sense of that intimate exchange. It’s a reminder that creativity is a messy, human, and ongoing process!