Brief aan Jan Veth Possibly 1900 - 1908

Editor: We're looking at "Brief aan Jan Veth," a drawing made with ink on paper by Hendrik Petrus Berlage. It's currently held at the Rijksmuseum and thought to have been created sometime between 1900 and 1908. At first glance, it gives me a sense of intimacy, like a personal note you're not really supposed to be reading. How do you feel about this work? Curator: You're right, there's something very private about it, isn't there? Seeing handwriting is always interesting, because you get a sense of someone's personality in it that you often don't see in printed text. What strikes me most is the almost Modernist quality of using lettering as the primary image. It pushes language into the realm of visual art, rather than simply being a vehicle for communication. What do you think about that aspect? Does the abstraction get in the way of your understanding? Editor: I think it definitely adds a layer. It's less about understanding the literal meaning, and more about getting a feeling. I almost see the shapes of the letters as buildings—maybe it’s because Berlage was such an influential architect? It seems like this drawing almost embodies that architectural idea in a very miniature, personal way. Curator: Absolutely, the connection to architecture is brilliant! Think about the rhythm of the lines, the density of certain areas, like a skyline or a structural support. It is fascinating how one discipline seeps into another. I wonder what Veth, the recipient, thought about receiving a letter elevated to this level of artistic expression? It must have been such a unique experience. Editor: Yeah, it really shifts the perspective on something as simple as receiving a letter. Curator: Exactly. It reminds us that even the most everyday things can hold layers of artistic depth, and it also invites us to explore our own perspectives beyond those established boundaries.