Brief aan Jan Weissenbruch Possibly 1853 - 1857

This letter was written by Jacobus Nicolaas Tjarda van Starckenborgh Stachouwer in 1863. As a handwritten document, it involved readily available materials: paper and ink, and the skill of penmanship. Look closely at the fluid strokes of the letters. Penmanship was a valued skill, reflecting education and social standing. The act of handwriting itself imbued the letter with a personal touch, a direct connection between the writer and recipient. Paper, initially handmade and later industrially produced, represents the broader shift in manufacturing during the 19th century. Consider the labor involved: the preparation of ink, the crafting of the paper, and the time invested in carefully forming each word. This letter is not just a means of communication, but a material artifact, revealing the values and practices of its time, and the vital role of written communication in a society undergoing rapid transformation.