Brief aan Jan Veth Possibly 1886

This is a letter made with ink on paper by Albert Verwey, likely in 1885. The dominant visual experience is one of linear script against the slightly off-white color of the page. The script itself appears to be very structured, and the regular spacing of the horizontal lines across the page creates a visual rhythm. This kind of visual structure—the neat lines and consistent handwriting—can be related to the broader cultural and philosophical concerns of the late 19th century around order and legibility. Here, Verwey employs handwriting as a semiotic system to convey written information. The very act of writing becomes a performance, reflecting social conventions and expectations. Notice the contrast between the precision of the lines and the more fluid, gestural quality of the handwriting. This contrast plays with the boundaries between formality and personal expression. This balance of precision and gesture challenges fixed meanings, as it reflects the ongoing interpretation of text within a cultural discourse.