Brief aan de commissie van de tentoonstelling gehouden door Genootschap Kunstliefde Possibly 1865

This letter, penned in Utrecht on April 18, 1864, by Dirk van Lokhorst, showcases a striking contrast in its formal elements. The stark white of the paper serves as a ground for the assertive black ink, creating a high-contrast visual field. The composition is defined by a structured cascade of text, each line a distinct stroke of information. The artist’s script, with its loops and sharp angles, conveys an emotional urgency. Lokhorst’s careful arrangement of words, however, betrays the inherent tension between artistic expression and structured communication. We see how the artist uses a grid-like structure to delineate the space for each thought, almost as if he is trying to confine or control the fluid, expressive nature of language. The handwritten form is suggestive of a deeper, more personal narrative that challenges the formal conventions of written correspondence. This piece destabilizes the boundaries between the functional and the aesthetic, urging us to consider the inherent artistic qualities of everyday communication.