Brief aan Ary Johannes Lamme Possibly 1885 - 1887

Curator: This… this isn’t just a drawing; it’s a whisper from the past. "Brief aan Ary Johannes Lamme," probably penned around 1885, with pen on paper...It's an intimate artifact. Something about it feels like finding a forgotten love letter in a dusty attic, doesn't it? Editor: It really does. The handwriting is so delicate, almost faded, and the whole piece feels really personal. The even grid of the paper provides the perfect structured foundation. It makes me wonder… what kind of a person Robert van Eijsden was? What can we even make of this personal letter? Curator: Ah, there you go, Editor! The “what kind of person?” is where the fun begins. Think about it: The handwriting itself is a portrait, isn’t it? See how the loops swell with a touch of flamboyance and joy? And the date penned at the top: Apeldoorn, July 23rd, 1885. Each stroke is its own intimate and evocative symbol of his artistic practice and personal story. You sense his flourish, don't you? What feeling does his particular writing elicit in you? Editor: Definitely joy...a hint of optimism? The way he dots his "i's," and extends his letterforms reminds me of handwriting samples I have examined in early twentieth-century artists’ books, although they never really seem to ‘stay within the lines,’ here there seems to be more discipline at play in his artistry. Curator: Precisely! It’s more than just discipline, though. To me, he’s demonstrating through his calligraphy that one can balance constraints – the lined paper – with flourishes of artistry and friendship – writing a close acquaintance or loved one with intention and purpose. It almost begs to be interpreted! How fascinating that we are invited in today to study such subtle genius, across time and cultures. Editor: That’s true... seeing this, I’m suddenly wondering about all the other untold stories hidden in old letters, scribbled notes, grocery lists... Now, that's exciting. Curator: Precisely! That feeling of potential – what it all might mean...isn't that exactly why we're drawn to art in the first place? The story continues!