Brief aan Jan Veth 1874 - 1925

This letter was written on April 13, 1894, by the Dutch Symbolist painter Jan Toorop. It provides a personal glimpse into the artistic dialogues of the late 19th century. Toorop, deeply engaged with the Symbolist movement, corresponds here with Jan Veth, an art critic, about his work and exhibitions. This piece reveals Toorop's involvement with themes central to Symbolism. The letter references the creation of “33 Stuks”, including works from the "Like Esthitigan Teng", which explore aesthetic and spiritual dimensions. Symbolism sought to move beyond realism, embracing subjective emotion and mystical ideas. Themes of spirituality, death, and the subconscious were used to create evocative and emotional experiences through art. As Toorop mentions his interest in the "anarchic of the new mysticism," we might consider his role within broader cultural shifts. Toorop developed a new artistic language rooted in Javanese, Christian, and Symbolist influences that mirrored the diverse cultural landscape of the Netherlands. The letter not only highlights the artistic exchanges of the time, but also the emotional currents that drove the Symbolist movement, reflecting a deep yearning for meaning and connection beyond the material world.