Brief aan jonkheer Hendrik Teding van Berkhout (1879-1969) Possibly 1931

This letter, by Otto Hanrath, was written in Amsterdam on December 30, 1931. Immediately, one notices the dominance of line—the carefully inscribed script against the off-white plane of the paper. The writing, rendered in dark ink, is structured to convey a sense of both formality and intimacy. Hanrath's visual approach mirrors the letter's intent: an address to Jonkheer Hendrik Teding van Berkhout, offering lithographs and etchings. Here, the structure of the handwriting—its slant, the varying pressure of the pen—serves as a form of visual semiotics. The deliberate arrangement of the text and the signature boldly placed perpendicular to the body of the letter challenges conventional presentation. It is a personal touch which underscores the dialogue between artist and collector, raising questions about the value of art and its exchange within cultural and economic systems.