Brief aan Jan Veth Possibly 1906

This letter, written in 1906 by Karel Alberdingk Thijm, is made with paper and ink, elemental materials with a long history. The letter is addressed to Jan Veth. What's interesting here is how these humble materials acquire significance through their use. Paper, derived from plants, becomes a vehicle for communication, while ink, a carefully formulated pigment, transforms thoughts into visible form. Writing by hand is slow and deliberate, compared to other forms of textual production, and offers a personal touch absent from a typed or printed page. Notice the handwriting itself. The carefully formed letters are evidence of the writer's education and social standing. The act of writing, therefore, becomes a performance of identity, a tangible expression of intellect and culture. Considering the letter in terms of labor, we recognize the time and effort involved in its creation, from the harvesting of raw materials for paper and ink, to the skilled hand that guides the pen. This underscores the importance of craft, skill, and human touch in shaping our understanding of art.