Brief aan jonkheer Hendrik Teding van Berkhout (1879-1969) Possibly 1924

Curator: Today, we're looking at "Brief aan jonkheer Hendrik Teding van Berkhout (1879-1969)", which translates to "Letter to Squire Hendrik Teding van Berkhout." This ink on paper drawing was possibly made around 1924 by Bernard Essers. What are your initial thoughts? Editor: Well, it strikes me as quite intimate, the scale being rather small as it’s contained within what appears to be a standard letter. I'm drawn to the stark contrast of the ink against the page. Curator: Indeed. Looking at it through a materialist lens, we can think about the cultural context around letter-writing itself. What kind of paper was used? How was it made? What does the ink composition suggest about its origins, or Essers’ resources? These are all crucial in deciphering the letter. Editor: Formally, I’m intrigued by the consistent penmanship, the uniform line-weight used to inscribe this piece. It directs the eye downward in a specific fashion, indicating where one may begin and where one might end reading. This directs not only our gaze but is itself an indication of its intention. Curator: Good points. Given the date, what can we speculate about the labour involved? Writing itself, the production of materials, all rely on systems of labor, which tells a wider narrative about societal structures at the time. Editor: Agreed, and one shouldn’t just consider societal impact, but artistic tradition! Notice how Essers, through a formal approach to lettering, harkens to traditional, possibly Renaissance-era, script styles! There is an emphasis on classical beauty, refined detail. Curator: Precisely. To me, understanding this interplay between the individual artistry of the letter’s construction combined with the social aspects reveals deeper meanings. A closer look tells a fuller story about material reality and production. Editor: Absolutely, both the intimate mark-making by the artist and larger symbolic connotations coalesce within the neat parameters of this single sheet.