Brief aan Jan Veth 1920 - 1925

This letter was written by Isaac Israels in 1922. The handwriting is free, loose, almost a drawing in itself, with the dark ink contrasting with the creamy paper, and the lines of the paper showing through the writing. It reminds me of Cy Twombly's scrawls, though much more controlled and intentional. Look at the way Israels forms his letters – each character seems to have its own energy and direction, like he's using the ink to sketch out an idea as much as to communicate a message. The rhythm and the pace of the writing vary across the page. Think about the physicality of writing, the way the pen moves across the surface, leaving its mark. This letter isn't just about the words; it's about the performance of writing itself. It's like he is speaking to you personally. Letters like this make me think of other artists who explored writing, such as Miró or Klee, who saw writing as a kind of playful, visual game.