Brief aan de heer J. de Vries Possibly 1845

This letter was written by Johannes van Ravenswaay to Mr. J. de Vries, using paper and ink. While seemingly simple, the materials themselves tell a story. Paper, even then, was a manufactured product, reflecting growing literacy and communication needs. The flow of ink across the page reveals Ravenswaay’s hand, his personal touch in forming each word. Yet, this act was also shaped by the technologies of the time: the pen he used, the formulation of the ink, and the very standardization of language that allowed him to communicate effectively. Consider the labor involved, from the making of the paper to the delivery of the letter. The postal systems, emerging in the 19th century, were crucial infrastructure of commerce and social connection. Ultimately, a letter like this is not just a message, it is a record of how we shape materials to our will, and how those materials shape us in turn. It connects the individual act of writing to wider social and economic networks.