Brief aan Jan Veth 1865 - 1925

This undated letter was composed by Jac van Looij, who used ink on paper to communicate with Jan Veth. The visual structure of the letter is primarily defined by the handwritten script which dominates the entire page. The density and arrangement of the text create a textured surface, with varying line weights and letterforms suggesting the writer’s shifting emotional state. The script is presented as a linear sequence, yet it visually forms a non-linear composition, with each word and phrase acting as a formal element. The page background is unobtrusive, allowing the writing to take precedence, emphasizing the materiality of the ink. Van Looij uses the letter's form to destabilize traditional meanings, values, or categories, conveying a message that exists beyond the literal interpretations of the words. The composition of the words creates an intimate space, while its formal qualities engage with a larger cultural and philosophical discourse.