Brief aan Joop Sjollema Possibly 1937

Curator: Here we have "Brief aan Joop Sjollema" or "Letter to Joop Sjollema", potentially from 1937, by Richard Nicolaüs Roland Holst. It’s an ink drawing on paper, held here at the Rijksmuseum. Editor: It feels so intimate. Seeing handwriting always strikes me. It gives a sense of immediacy—you’re right there with the artist in his thoughts. There's a vulnerability in sharing something so personal. Curator: Absolutely. Holst was a multifaceted artist – a designer, a writer, and deeply interested in the spiritual dimension of art. Look closely at the script itself; the individual letterforms almost resemble illuminated manuscripts. It speaks to a commitment to craftsmanship. Editor: But what was the cultural or political climate like in the Netherlands at the time that he would’ve created this piece? Was Holst reacting to any societal pressures through his work? It could lend itself to larger ideas if Holst knew something was amiss. Curator: We have to be mindful of the impending shadow of World War II. Artists like Holst often used symbols to subtly communicate dissent or anxieties that may have been otherwise silenced. His references aren't always clear in a piece like this but definitely something we can see more of during this time. Editor: The handwritten nature makes it especially intriguing. Today, everything is typed. Handwriting feels revolutionary in its individuality, as if this would speak specifically to someone and not some large, homogenized voice. Curator: Letters are deeply personal. As cultural objects, they offer a portal to the mind and heart of another human being. To be in the Rijksmuseum underscores the power of human connection. Editor: It’s interesting to see that this intimate gesture is in such a large institution. It makes you think about what the piece’s future looks like outside of its inherent historical moment and who will give it life moving forward. Curator: Holst’s "Letter to Joop Sjollema" embodies a world of emotion through very humble means. It leaves me contemplating the art of connection and the legacy of human touch. Editor: Indeed. A gentle reminder that even in times of darkness, art can exist, and communication always offers solace, and maybe even action.