Brief aan Etha Fles Possibly 1886

Curator: We're looking at "Brief aan Etha Fles," possibly created in 1886 by Jan Veth. It's an ink drawing on paper currently held in the Rijksmuseum collection. What are your first thoughts? Editor: The stark contrast between the delicate script and the stark whiteness of the paper gives me a somber feeling. It's a very personal thing, private, and feels a bit invasive to look at it now. Curator: Intriguing. It's interesting you mention "private." Veth was deeply embedded in artistic and intellectual circles; the content, while a personal correspondence, reflects broader anxieties about art's reception. He name drops "Rembrandt. Milles en Janse," so perhaps there is some indication of his artistic aspirations there. Editor: That context illuminates things. Still, formally, I'm captivated by the sheer density of the writing. The rhythmic quality, that controlled hand. Semiotically, we could read the consistent slant of the handwriting to mean his consistent dedication to his practice. Curator: And also the societal expectation of formal script, in an era where personal letters were crucial for networking and sustaining relationships within these creative circles. Veth, writing to Etha Fles, wasn't merely jotting down thoughts; he was actively constructing a public persona. Editor: Public persona or private anguish. "A thing of beauty is a joy for ever," so there is an appeal to more transcendent and eternal matters here. Yet also he urges that "In moet geld verdiens" ("I must earn money"), perhaps suggesting an artistic ideal clashes against stark reality? Curator: Exactly! That push and pull highlights the complex position of artists in that era—chasing this beautiful calling amidst very grounded financial struggles. Veth, always attuned to such contradictions, really exemplifies this tension. Editor: I agree. The economy of means—just ink on paper, yet carrying such profound historical and even philosophical weight, speaks volumes. The raw character is what truly captivates me here. Curator: It's remarkable how this letter encapsulates Veth’s intricate awareness of art's role in society. The personal nature makes it easier for viewers today to approach.