Brief aan Jan Veth 1857 - 1925

This is a letter to Jan Veth penned by Max Liebermann. At first glance, the symbols within may seem simply calligraphic, but each stroke carries cultural weight. Note how Liebermann's script, dense and flowing, mirrors the intellectual currents of his time. Handwriting itself becomes a symbol, an echo of personal expression amidst the rise of mechanical reproduction. Think of handwriting as a kind of gesture, laden with intention, like the pointing finger of a Renaissance prophet. Consider the act of letter-writing: a deliberate, intimate exchange across physical space. This is a motif echoed through history, from ancient Roman correspondence to lovers' notes hidden in coat pockets. The emotional intensity of such exchanges cannot be overstated. The letter becomes a vessel, carrying the weight of expectation and desire, a tradition that engages us at a deep, subconscious level. The cyclical journey of thought, meticulously captured on paper, resurfaces and evolves, taking on new meanings.