Brief aan Ina van Eibergen Santhagens-Waller c. 1878 - 1938

Curator: This is "Brief aan Ina van Eibergen Santhagens-Waller" by Richard Nicolaüs Roland Holst, dating approximately from 1878 to 1938. It’s an ink drawing on paper. The letterform is really grabbing my attention, the handwriting style so personal and expressive. How do you read it? Editor: It definitely feels intimate, like glimpsing into a private correspondence. The paper looks aged, almost brittle, which adds to that sense of historical distance and makes me consider questions about its social value versus the artist's own use of this support. What’s most interesting about this piece to you? Curator: What’s striking is the intersection of craft and communication. This wasn’t mass-produced; it was painstakingly created by hand, word by word. Think about the labor involved, the time taken to form each letter. It makes us consider the value we assign to handmade objects versus the often-overlooked labor inherent in written correspondence itself, what are your ideas here? Editor: I guess I hadn't considered the physical effort in creating a handwritten letter in a pre-digital world. The ink itself, how it was produced, the kind of pen used… These were all conscious material choices that influenced the final product, its preservation and social values? Curator: Exactly! And this isn’t just any writing; it's a letter, a form of communication deeply embedded in social relationships and expectations. Examining the materials – the ink, the paper – grounds the artistic process in its historical and social context. How does the physical letter relate to art traditions for you? Editor: I see what you mean! I typically wouldn't consider a letter as 'art,' but understanding the production process, the time and material investment, shifts my perspective. Thanks, that has enriched how I see not just this piece, but many artworks now. Curator: It works the other way, as well. Artworks from now on may lead to new readings of archival material or the overlooked art traditions of social life. That’s a different way to use these insights as starting points, wouldn't you say?