Brief aan Jan Veth Possibly 1918

Curator: This is Willem Witsen's "Brief aan Jan Veth," possibly from 1918. It's pen and ink on paper, currently held at the Rijksmuseum. Editor: It's a letter, a handwritten note. The handwriting is quite expressive, almost like a drawing in itself. I wonder, what do you see in this piece beyond its face value? Curator: Well, it's a letter, right? So let's consider the labor involved. Someone had to produce the paper, the ink; Witsen himself had to dedicate his time and energy, not just to writing, but to the act of communicating. What can this object tell us about Witsen's daily routines, artistic practice, the social context surrounding letter-writing and artistic exchange during this period? This small artifact opens up a study of 19th-century materialism in action. How are resources being shared and spent between Witsen and Veth, here? Editor: I see what you mean. I was thinking about it just as a personal message, but it's also a physical record of the process of communication. Curator: Exactly. The materiality shifts our attention from the individual's emotions to the whole means of production that shape how artists like Witsen were working and spending in this moment. It brings attention to resources needed, artistic intentions and social practices between Witsen and Veth. Editor: So, by focusing on the materials and labor, we can unpack the larger economic and social forces at play in the art world. Curator: Precisely. Editor: I hadn’t considered approaching it from that angle. It gives a new dimension to understanding even seemingly personal items like this letter. Curator: Material considerations can give an insight in to any piece. I suggest keeping it in mind from now on.