Brief aan Pieter Haverkorn van Rijsewijk Possibly 1899

This letter was created by Marinus van der Maarel, at an unknown date, using paper and ink. It’s a very direct kind of artifact, just ink applied to paper. But consider what is implied in this action. The making of paper itself is no small thing. It involves breaking down plant fibers, processing them, and then pressing them into sheets. These sheets, as we see here, become a blank canvas for communication. The ink, another complex recipe, allows for the transfer of thought into a durable, readable form. The handwriting also tells us something. The controlled, elegant script speaks to a culture of penmanship, where handwriting was a valued skill, a direct reflection of the writer’s character and education. So even in something as simple as a handwritten letter, we see layers of material, process, and social context all intertwined. These should all be considered when thinking about the cultural value of this artwork.