Brief aan Johann Friedrich Frauenholz 1796

This letter to Johann Friedrich Frauenholz was made by Louis Bernard Coclers, using paper, ink, and handwriting. Seemingly mundane, letters like this one offer a direct connection to a specific time, place, and culture, revealing the everyday realities of communication and social exchange in the 18th century. The material qualities of the letter itself — the paper's texture, the ink's color, the script's style — speak to the technologies and conventions of its time. Paper production, penmanship, and postal systems all played a crucial role in shaping its form. Moreover, the act of handwriting imbues the letter with the writer’s own intentions and personality. You can see how the materiality bears witness to the labor involved in its creation, reflecting class, skill, and access to resources. So, the next time you encounter a seemingly ordinary object, consider the materials, the making, and the context in which it was created, and you might be surprised by what you discover.