Copyright: Rijks Museum: Open Domain
This letter was written in Amsterdam in September 1833 by Abraham van Samuel de Lopes Salzedo. The handwriting itself is a dominant visual symbol, reflecting the culture of correspondence and personal expression of the time. The flourishes and elegant script are reminiscent of earlier calligraphic traditions, echoing the importance of handwritten documents, a practice that extends back to the medieval illuminated manuscripts, where ornate lettering elevated simple text to sacred art. This act of writing—the shaping of letters—reveals a human desire to impress and connect across time and space. Think of the scrolls of ancient scribes or the detailed inscriptions on Roman monuments. Here, the act of writing bridges the gap between individuals, a non-linear, cyclical progression where symbols resurface, evolve, and take on new meanings in different contexts. The collective memory associated with written communication engages viewers on a deep, subconscious level, as we recognize the inherent emotional weight carried by these carefully crafted words.
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