Brief aan Joop Sjollema Possibly 1936

This is a letter written in 1936 by the Dutch artist Richard Nicolaüs Roland Holst. He addresses it to Joop Sjollema from Bloemendaal. Looking at the handwriting, we can consider how the act of writing itself becomes a form of artistic expression. What does it mean to communicate in this way, rather than through the machinery of the printing press? In a society dominated by new technologies of communication, the personal letter can be seen as a potent symbol of a particular kind of cultural value. The letter signifies the interpersonal relationship, an intimacy that’s rooted in the social conditions of its time. Holst’s letter writing can be seen in light of the period's conservative and progressive positions. To fully understand it, we can delve into the history of letter writing and communication, investigating social archives, literary sources, and institutional records. Only then can we fully appreciate its significance.