Brief aan Willem Vogelsang Possibly 1904

Curator: I am at the Rijksmuseum in Amsterdam, standing before "Brief aan Willem Vogelsang"– or "Letter to Willem Vogelsang" – created, it’s thought, around 1904 by Willem Witsen. It's a compact drawing, ink on paper, showcasing Witsen’s intimate style. What are your first thoughts? Editor: Well, first, it just feels so *immediate*. A little like glimpsing a private thought, catching sight of a personal, unadorned message. The casual slant of the words, the darkness of the ink—almost impulsive in its intimacy. It looks very fragile. Curator: I agree. The act of handwriting, in itself, embodies Intimism as a theme, emphasizing the personal touch. Look how the curves and lines of the script, seem to evoke the writer's mood…perhaps urgency mixed with a desire for clarity? Editor: Absolutely. And you know, the very existence of letters… It's fascinating how we invest physical objects with our emotions and desires. In a way, the words form a bridge between people over distance, yes, but also between past, present, and future. Think of the countless layers of meaning—hopes, fears, love, secrets—compressed into those fluid lines. It represents so much of humanity, and now all preserved in this one drawing. Curator: And there's a real melancholy woven into the act of communication itself here. It seems we read more and more about loneliness despite being the most "connected" civilization. Is it our constant pursuit of efficiency and ease with communication now that robs us of the genuine and authentic connections that give rise to things like letters, that help us appreciate the present moment more richly? Editor: You know, there's a certain…weightiness to this piece, for that reason. Even if we didn't understand a word of the text. Curator: It’s as if Witsen invites us into his own private world, for the duration of the read anyway, revealing not only his words, but perhaps an echo of his inner self. It has definitely left me feeling introspective about how little written words I see, let alone receive, as well. Editor: It's prompted me to reflect upon those connections too, even if briefly. Thanks to this small moment, this drawing's spirit can flow through to each new viewer that beholds it.