Brief aan jonkheer Hendrik Teding van Berkhout (1879-1969) Possibly 1932

Curator: Welcome. Here we have a letter, titled "Brief aan jonkheer Hendrik Teding van Berkhout," or "Letter to Esquire Hendrik Teding van Berkhout." The work is attributed to Dolf van der Haar and thought to have been composed around 1932, created using pen and ink on paper. Editor: It feels very intimate, almost like peeking into someone's personal thoughts. The handwriting is beautiful, in its own way, even though I can’t read a word of it. There's a certain vulnerability in the handwritten form. It's like a direct line to the artist's hand, their mood at the time. Curator: Indeed. It embodies the Intimism art movement, focusing on private, domestic scenes, and personal relationships. This particular letter offers a window into van der Haar’s connection with Hendrik Teding van Berkhout. Van der Haar seems to be seeking the addressee's assessment and expresses anticipation for being in Amsterdam. Editor: You can sense that. There's anticipation and a bit of self-consciousness. The hurried scrawl feels like someone desperate to communicate something specific, almost urgently. Is that address at the top? “Middelburg, 30 Nov ‘32?” There’s such personality in it! Curator: Yes, it appears to include a date and location – Middelburg, November 30, 1932. It also demonstrates modernist stylistic qualities, rejecting traditional artistic conventions. Think about the use of handwriting as the primary form of expression and how calligraphy as visual art was explored in the early 20th century. It challenges the separation between writing and art. Editor: It makes you think about how much we’ve lost with digital communication. The nuances of ink on paper, the little imperfections—those are all part of the message. They are human. This small artwork acts as visual diary of its time. Curator: Precisely. It's an insightful demonstration into personal correspondence, reminding us of a time when such handwritten letters formed a vital connection between individuals. Editor: Yes. A peek into a moment, beautifully preserved, that speaks to how much intention we put into communicating ourselves.