Brief van ds. Hooyman aan Jan Brandes 1779 - 1785

This is a letter penned by Johannes Hooyman, its very form and script laden with symbols of communication across time. Consider the act of writing itself, a technology of memory, enabling ideas to transcend immediate presence. The handwritten script, with its unique flourishes, reveals the personal touch of the author, a direct link to his thoughts and emotions. This intimate form stands in stark contrast to the printed word, impersonal and mass-produced. Here, the handwriting becomes a symbol of authenticity, an effort to convey not just information, but also the writer's presence. The very act of letter-writing reminds us of similar gestures across history, from ancient scrolls to modern emails, each adapting to its time yet serving the same fundamental human need to connect and communicate. The letter, with its encoded messages, acts as a vessel carrying emotions and intentions, much like an offering or a plea across the vast ocean of time. It encapsulates the eternal human desire to bridge distances and leave a lasting trace.