Brief aan Jan Veth Possibly 1900 - 1922

This letter to Jan Veth was penned in 1900 by Theo van Hoytema, who, if I didn't know better, I'd say was painting with ink. I can imagine him hunched over his desk, brow furrowed in concentration, the nib of his pen dancing across the page. Just look at that looping script and see how it captures a fleeting thought and a cascade of memories! The words, like paint strokes, build up layer upon layer, revealing the artist’s emotions, their humor and joy. They are a series of black marks on a pale surface, yet the density and rhythm of the ink give the page a surprising depth. It's so cool how one artist responds to another. Hoytema is in conversation with Veth through the simple act of letter writing. It makes me think about how all artists are connected, drawing inspiration from each other across time and space. Painting, writing – it’s all just different ways of seeing, thinking, and experiencing the world, one expressive gesture at a time.