Brief aan Jan Veth Possibly 1886

This letter was penned by Jac van Looij in 1886. Notice the fluid, almost urgent hand, which reveals much about the writer's state of mind. Consider the act of writing itself—a direct line to express thoughts and emotions. Throughout history, writing has been seen as a powerful medium for conveying hidden truths and unspoken desires. We see this in ancient Egyptian hieroglyphs, where symbols served not just as communication, but as keys to the afterlife. The very act of committing words to paper—a personal declaration meant for another’s eyes—mirrors the confessions and revelations found in psychoanalytic settings. It is as if, in writing, the subconscious finds a voice, revealing layers of thought and feeling. The emotional energy imbued in this letter resonates across time, a testament to how human expression carries deep, subconscious power. Just as ancient symbols evolve and reappear, the emotional weight of personal correspondence continues to engage us, connecting us to past experiences.