Brief aan Christiaan Kramm Possibly 1858

This letter was written by Jacobus Cornelis Gaal in 1830. It is made with paper and ink, and though those may seem like humble materials, they’re essential to understanding the social context of this artwork. Consider the labor involved. The paper would have been manufactured, likely by hand, a process involving pulping fibers, pressing, and drying. The ink, too, would have been carefully mixed. Then comes the act of writing itself. Gaal’s elegant script speaks to his education and social standing, reflective of a time when handwriting was a highly valued skill. The letter testifies to a network of communication dependent on postal systems and literacy. It's a reminder that even seemingly simple documents like this are products of complex social and economic systems. By attending to the materials and processes involved, we recognize the cultural significance embedded within.