Brief aan Mien Cambier van Nooten Possibly 1939

Editor: This is “Brief aan Mien Cambier van Nooten” by Dick Ket, likely from 1939, currently held at the Rijksmuseum. It's an ink drawing on paper, and seeing Ket's tight handwriting gives this work such a personal feel. There's almost an intimacy in reading a personal letter turned into an artistic composition. What catches your eye about this piece? Curator: Ah, yes, Dick Ket. What a soul! For me, his work always whispers secrets. He had a difficult life due to a heart condition; that sense of fragility permeates everything, don’t you think? It’s more than just a letter, isn't it? Look closer – consider how he elevates the mundane into something profound, a snippet of his daily world infused with the intensity of the present moment. Doesn’t it read a bit like visual poetry, of everyday longing and constraint? Editor: I hadn't thought about the idea of constraint playing a role here, I guess I focused on his expression. So the neat handwriting, and overall composition... Curator: Are not merely about relaying information, but a framework! It's like he's meticulously organizing his existence onto the page. You see, it's about finding beauty, about making a moment timeless amidst hardship. It gives insight into the beauty of daily life. What is more precious? Editor: That's such a different way of thinking about a simple letter. I initially looked at this as simply correspondence, but you are right; it is poetry that reveals Ket's spirit! Thank you! Curator: And thank you! Now when I view other "simple" forms like postcards, grocery lists or notes, I'm going to regard them as potential hidden artworks.