Brief aan jonkheer Hendrik Teding van Berkhout (1879-1969) Possibly 1931

Here's a letter to Jonkheer Hendrik Teding van Berkhout, dashed off sometime in December by Samuel Jessurun de Mesquita. The strokes are quick, confident, and dark, like a dance across the page. Notice how the ink pools and thins, creating a rhythm of light and shadow. It's the kind of writing where you feel the hand moving, the pressure of the pen, the way the words tumble out. Look at the flourish of the "J" in Jessurun, how it loops and curves. It’s almost decorative, a little doodle that adds personality. You can see the artist's hand at play, not just conveying information but reveling in the sheer physicality of writing. It reminds me of Cy Twombly, or even some of Basquiat's notes; writing is not just about words, it’s about the gesture, the energy, the raw immediacy of the mark.