Brief aan Frans Buffa en Zonen Possibly 1880 - 1887

This letter to Frans Buffa and Zonen was written by Philip Windt, likely in the late 19th or early 20th century. Its materials – paper and ink – are ubiquitous, yet the act of handwriting elevates it beyond mere correspondence. The paper itself, likely made from wood pulp, speaks to the increasing industrialization of the era and the rise of mass communication. The ink, carefully applied with a nib pen, reveals the writer's hand. The cursive script reflects a specific time in history. Consider the labor involved: the production of paper, the careful crafting of sentences, the physical act of writing. Each stroke of the pen carries intention. The content is a proposal to sell a drawing for 125. The letter, therefore, embodies a moment in the history of art and commerce, revealing how artists navigated the complexities of their profession. It asks us to consider the social context of artistic practice, blurring the lines between the act of creation and the realities of earning a living.