Brief aan Jan Veth Possibly 1907

This letter to Jan Veth was written by Wally Moes in 1907, probably with a fountain pen. The thing that catches my eye is the rhythm of the handwritten script, the way the dark, looping strokes create a visual texture on the page, like a field of tiny, abstract figures. Look closely and you'll notice how the pressure varies, creating thick and thin lines that give the writing a sense of depth and movement. There is a density to the page, with the lines of script packed close together, yet the words have room to breathe and a light, airy feel. For me, this quality is all about Moes’s hand, her movement, her energy. This piece makes me think of Cy Twombly, whose works are filled with scribbles and marks that evoke a similar sense of playful energy. The kind of art that reminds us that artmaking is a conversation, an ongoing exchange of ideas across time. It embraces ambiguity and multiple interpretations over fixed meanings.