Brief aan Jan Veth 1879 - 1923

This is a letter by Karel Petrus Cornelis de Bazel, dated 1899. It's made from paper, with handwriting and a sketch in ink. These are, of course, very traditional materials for correspondence, but what makes this letter so interesting is the drawing included. It seems to be an architectural plan, perhaps for a redesign of a home. The lines are precise, yet loose enough to feel spontaneous. You can see the weight of the ink as it varies with the pressure of de Bazel's hand. The combination of text and image tells us that the author was not only a skilled communicator but also adept at spatial reasoning. De Bazel was a Dutch architect, designer, and artist, associated with the Amsterdam School. He was deeply involved in the Dutch Arts and Crafts movement, which emphasized the value of handcraftsmanship against industrial modes of production. This letter shows his interest in design, even in a personal note, emphasizing how he blurred the lines between fine art, craft, and everyday life.