Brief aan Jan Veth 1890

This handwritten letter to Jan Veth was penned by Jacoba Cornelia Jolles-Singels, likely in the 1890s. Jolles-Singels, writing in Dutch, offers a glimpse into the intimate circles of artists and intellectuals of the time. The letter touches on themes of longing, memory, and artistic interpretation. There's a sense of vulnerability as she discusses the potential for misunderstanding, asking whether a portrait captures the true essence of a person. She writes, "...is that with the best to understand that portrait?" Her words reveal the emotional investment artists place in their work, and the hope that their creations will be understood and appreciated. The act of writing itself becomes a form of portraiture, revealing the writer’s thoughts, feelings, and social connections. The letter serves as a reminder of the importance of personal correspondence in a time before digital communication, and the power of handwritten words to convey emotion and meaning.