Brief aan Jan Veth 1865 - 1925

This is a letter by the Dutch artist Jac van Looij, penned on the 30th of August in 1891. Letters like this provide insight into the social and intellectual networks that shaped artistic movements. Van Looij was part of a generation grappling with the shifts from traditional academic painting to more subjective, modern forms of expression. The letter is addressed to Jan Veth and speaks to the personal relationships artists maintained, and the emotional support they offered one another. You can feel Van Looij’s concern for a woman after childbirth, a subject often overlooked in grand historical narratives, yet central to lived experience. Note the line in which he references the 'Pulchri Studio', an artist society in The Hague, revealing his involvement in shaping the art world of his time. It’s a reminder that art emerges not in isolation, but through collective effort. Through this intimate exchange, we glimpse the fusion of personal care and professional engagement that defined Van Looij's world, challenging us to consider how artists' emotional lives intertwine with their creative output.