Brief aan Cornelis Gerardus 't Hooft Possibly 1915

This letter to Cornelis Gerardus 't Hooft was composed in 1915 by Hendrick Peter Godfried Quack. It’s made with paper, and ink applied with a nib pen. These are very ordinary materials, but they speak volumes about the kind of communication that was valued at the time. The controlled loops and lines, the consistent pressure and flow of the ink, all indicate the importance of penmanship in the early 20th century. Handwriting was about more than just legibility; it was a skill, taught in schools and seen as an essential attribute. This letter offers a direct connection to the past. It shows how people like Quack took time and care to communicate with each other. Before email, that was how relationships were maintained. It makes you wonder about the value of these connections and the labor of communication today.