Brief aan Henriette Knip Possibly 1841 - 1848

Curator: Before us, we have "Brief aan Henriette Knip," which translates to "Letter to Henriette Knip," possibly created between 1841 and 1848 by Johannes Immerzeel. It's an ink drawing on paper currently held at the Rijksmuseum. Immediately, the slant of the writing catches my eye. Editor: The raked penmanship makes me feel that whoever wrote the letter wanted to appear trustworthy and elegant; he uses his tools to reach out to a woman whose artwork he is considering, attempting perhaps to come across as honest. Is this how we perceive it still? Curator: Perhaps; there is an established script that carries inherent meaning about self-presentation that the writer seeks to embody; notice, for instance, the formal greeting versus the closing: both express degrees of respect. The looping flourishes of the signature are very interesting. It almost creates a separate graphic element from the controlled lines above. It becomes more free-flowing, emotive; an image within an image, something to be appreciated not merely understood Editor: Definitely, the flourishes serve an expressive function outside the mere conveyance of the words; if you follow it more analytically, the black ink contrasts starkly with the bright white paper. The way the light hits the page accentuates the texture of the paper and the thickness of the ink in certain areas. See how the light plays within the ink on paper? This draws the eye to those moments, emphasizing those graphic qualities that almost become visual outbursts or ejaculations that stand in contrast with the other more careful strokes in between Curator: The postscript at the bottom interests me too: it translates to: "With friendly greetings from your obedient servant," suggesting particular humility, placing the other person's will ahead of his own, within cultural constraints Editor: Right, it reveals more than simply what is being said, and more the writer's affect while making sure she would know about the feeling too. It speaks of an interior, not quite hidden state that the words wish to convey. All from the lines, marks, spaces; what beautiful visual architecture. Curator: I’m now even more intrigued by how communication itself can be so richly layered; that handwriting on paper holds history, purpose, intention. Editor: Indeed. There are stories etched within those delicate ink strokes, visible across all the marks he deliberately and incidentally leaves.