Brief aan jonkheer Hendrik Teding van Berkhout (1879-1969) Possibly 1932

This letter was written by Henri Verstijnen in 1932 to jonkheer Hendrik Teding van Berkhout. We can clearly see the tools that made this artwork, a pen and ink, and the handwriting that gives the letter its form. The material itself, paper, is a relatively cheap, industrial material, yet the artistry involved in handwriting can be seen as a kind of craft. This particular handwriting is artful, elegant, and precise, requiring years of practice, and is tied to wider social issues of labor. The letter format itself is interesting. It is a medium of communication that reflects social status and class distinctions. The handwritten format suggests a degree of intimacy and personalization, which could be seen as a critique of mass-produced communication methods. This reminds us that to truly understand an artwork, one must look beyond traditional notions of fine art and consider materials, the making process, and its historical and social context.