Brief aan Lambertus Hardenberg Possibly 1854

Here we have a letter to Lambertus Hardenberg, handwritten by W.A. van der Drift. Its existence as a physical document carries us back to a time when personal correspondence was a tangible expression of human connection. Embedded in the handwriting itself are hints of van der Drift’s identity and social position. In the letter he talks about having heard that Hardenberg has broken his leg and wonders if he has been written to. The tone suggests a level of familiarity and concern, but also hints at the formalities and social expectations of the time. The act of writing and sending a letter, with its labor and material costs, would have been a privilege not equally available to all members of society. The letter remains as a trace, suggesting a moment of connection between people, shaped by the constraints and possibilities of their time.