Brief aan Jan Veth Possibly 1908

This letter to Jan Veth was composed in 1908 by Richard Nicolaüs Roland Holst, a poet and artist. There’s a real sense of process here, a stream of consciousness captured with ink on paper. The pressure on the pen varies, creating a rhythm with the text. Look at the way the letters loop and connect, like thoughts linking together. The ink is absorbed by the paper, becoming one with the page. You can almost feel Roland Holst’s hand moving as he lays bare his concerns and personal reflections. The letter is written in Dutch, and the words express a desire for understanding. It could be a sketch for a larger idea, where the act of writing becomes an investigation in itself. The letter reminds me of Cy Twombly's script paintings – both artists explore the potential for language as a form, where meaning emerges through the physicality of the mark.