Brief aan Jan Veth 1878 - 1925

This letter was written by Richard Nicolaüs Roland Holst to Jan Veth in 1893 using ink on paper. The marks are flowing, the handwriting is stylized and confident, and the ink is dark. Imagine the moment of its creation—the writer, pen in hand, leaning over the paper, thoughts taking shape in fluid lines. I wonder about Holst's state of mind as he wrote. Perhaps he paused, mid-sentence, searching for the right word, the pen hovering just above the page. I’m really struck by the physicality of this medium. The texture of the paper, the way the ink bleeds slightly into the fibers, soaks in. The dark ink creates a web of meaning, with each stroke of the pen bearing intention and emotion. It reminds me that writing, like painting, can be a form of embodied expression. It’s interesting how artists through time are in constant conversation, building on each other's ideas, and inspiring each other's creativity. Each stroke embodies ambiguity and uncertainty, allowing for multiple interpretations rather than fixed meanings.