Brief aan Jan Veth Possibly 1905 - 1914

This letter was written in 1905 by Cornelis Hofstede de Groot, and it's a glimpse into the art world of his time, a world fueled by words, ideas, and debates. I imagine him hunched over his desk, pen in hand, wrestling with his thoughts, forming the sentences. The page is filled with typed text, carefully aligned, each word a deliberate stroke in a narrative he is constructing for Jan Veth. It's a formal communication, but I can't help but feel a sense of intimacy in the exchange. A personal note has been added to the top right corner, handwritten. I wonder about the relationship between Hofstede de Groot and Jan Veth. Were they friends, rivals, or something in between? What were the stakes of their conversation? What impact did it have on their work and on the broader art world? It is a reminder that artists are always in conversation with one another, building upon each other's ideas and challenging each other's assumptions. This letter makes me consider the many different ways that artists communicate, collaborate, and inspire one another.