Brief aan Mien Cambier van Nooten Possibly 1938

Curator: Let's take a closer look at "Brief aan Mien Cambier van Nooten" a piece created by Dick Ket, likely in 1938. The artwork, part of the Rijksmuseum collection, uses ink and pen on what appears to be a textile surface. It's essentially a handwritten letter. Editor: It looks like a fascinating document. My first impression is of controlled chaos—a dense, almost claustrophobic, block of text held together by the rigid rectangle of the letter form. The handwriting is small, neat, but relentless. Curator: Precisely. Ket was known for his still lifes, often laden with personal symbolism due to his chronic illness. This letter offers a more direct connection to his inner world. The date, 2-3-'38, situates it in a turbulent period, just before the outbreak of World War II. I wonder what preoccupations weighed on his mind? Editor: The textual nature makes me curious about its content. Given his personal struggles, one might speculate it discusses themes of isolation, perhaps, or anxieties about his health. The "house" mentioned at the start possibly symbolizing life itself. What kind of a relationship do we believe Dick Ket shared with Mien? How does it fit into Ket's life story as a disabled artist who remained highly prolific? Curator: Exactly. Understanding the social dynamics of the period, particularly the role of women, and his personal relationships, would offer crucial context. Was she a confidante, a muse, a patron perhaps? Also interesting is the visual quality— the consistent, almost obsessive quality to his pen strokes, that give this written communication such presence, so unlike a typed letter. Editor: I completely agree. Considering the materiality, the choice of textile, could also add another layer to this letter, like a material manifestation of the ties that connect the individuals through vulnerability, maybe the artwork gains another meaning through how physical Ket was making this correspondence to another. Curator: It also underscores the performative nature of artmaking and documentation. A simple letter is transformed into a valuable testament to personal life through time. Editor: Definitely gives us something to ponder when looking back on our own time here today.