Brief aan Jan Veth Possibly 1900 - 1913

Here is a letter to Jan Veth, penned in ink by Cornelis Gerardus 't Hooft sometime around 1900. Look at how the light catches the loops and tails of the letters, the way the pressure of the pen varies, thick and thin, almost like a heartbeat. You know, writing, like painting, is a process. It's about making marks, finding your way, and sometimes getting lost in the details. The ink here isn't just information; it's a physical thing, leaving a trace, a shadow, it's like handwriting becomes a kind of abstract expressionism. See how some words are darker, bolder, and others fade, almost disappearing. It reminds me a little of Cy Twombly, with his scribbled lines and poetic fragments, or perhaps closer to home, Bram van Velde's raw expression. Art is like a big conversation, everyone chipping in, adding their mark, their voice. And like this letter, it's not always about saying one thing, but about exploring the many ways of seeing and feeling.