Brief aan Willem Bogtman Possibly 1922 - 1932

This is a letter, titled "Brief aan Willem Bogtman," created in 1922 by Richard Nicolaüs Roland Holst. The eye is immediately drawn to the contrast between the creamy parchment-like paper and the dense, dark ink script cascading across the page. The script itself is a visual element – each stroke, loop, and slant contributing to a textured surface that invites close inspection. The composition isn't conventionally structured; rather, the text spreads organically, filling the space in a way that echoes the spontaneity of thought. This form destabilizes the traditional notion of a letter as a purely communicative object, transforming it into a field of visual and textual interplay. The materiality is essential here. The ink bleeds slightly into the paper, creating soft edges that blur the boundaries between word and background. This subtle diffusion might be interpreted as a sign of vulnerability, suggesting the intimate and temporal nature of written communication. Thus, Holst's letter isn't merely a message but an artifact.