Brief aan Philip Zilcken 1876 - 1922

This letter was penned by Albert Baertsoen, likely around the turn of the 20th century. The handwriting itself—those loops and slants—is a potent symbol. Consider the act of handwriting, a deeply human gesture, a direct link between thought and expression. Think back to the illuminated manuscripts of the medieval period, where calligraphy elevated the written word to a sacred art. The very curves and lines were imbued with meaning. Even today, we see the remnants of this in formal invitations and documents. But look closer still. The fading ink, the yellowing paper—these are not merely signs of age, but palimpsests of time itself. They whisper of countless hands that have touched this letter, countless eyes that have scanned its words. They echo in our collective memory, reminding us of the ephemeral nature of human existence. This letter, then, is more than just a message; it is a vessel carrying echoes of the past, still resonating with the present.