Brief aan Pieter Haverkorn van Rijsewijk Possibly 1894 - 1898

Jozef Israëls wrote this letter to Pieter Haverkorn van Rijsewijk in 1894, likely with a quill and ink on paper. The simple materials belie a complex relationship between labor and artistic expression. The flow of the ink across the page, the pressure and release of the artist’s hand – these are all direct traces of Israëls’s presence. The letter is an artifact of daily life and a testament to the labor of communication. Calligraphy itself, like other forms of skilled handwork, occupies an ambiguous place in the hierarchy of art. It demands a level of mastery and precision. The act of writing, especially in a pre-digital age, was a task performed with care and attention. Letters were not merely functional; they were also embodiments of personal connection. In an era defined by industrial production, handwriting retained a human touch that machines couldn't replicate. Understanding this letter involves recognizing the value of everyday materials and the skilled hand that brought them to life. It encourages us to rethink the boundaries of art history and consider the labor embedded within the creative process.