Brief aan Bartholomeus Johannes van Hove 1847

This is a letter, penned in Haarlem in October 1847, a personal exchange captured on paper. The handwriting itself becomes a symbol, a direct trace of the author's thoughts and emotions, reminiscent of ancient scripts imbued with profound meaning. Notice how the words flow, sometimes elegantly, sometimes hastily, across the page. This act of writing echoes the tradition of illuminated manuscripts, where text and image intertwine to convey knowledge and meaning. The letter, in its structure and intent, mirrors the cyclical nature of communication – a sender, a message, and a receiver, each playing their part in the ongoing dance of human connection. The very act of writing and reading has appeared in other contexts. In ancient Egyptian art the Scribe, a person knowledgable in hieroglyphs, was charged with upholding the truth. From sacred knowledge to personal correspondence, the emotional weight of the written word resonates throughout time. The letter embodies a timeless quest for connection and understanding, resurfacing and evolving in each new context.