Brief aan Pieter Haverkorn van Rijsewijk Possibly 1895 - 1899

This is a letter made by Paul Joseph Constantin Gabriël, dated 1895, featuring handwritten text. The dominant symbol here is the act of writing itself, a technology that serves as a powerful link between individuals across distances and time. The written word, with its roots stretching back to ancient civilizations, is often associated with knowledge, power, and memory. Consider how Egyptian hieroglyphs, initially pictorial, evolved into more abstract forms, each symbol carrying layers of meaning. Even now, in our age of digital communication, the handwritten letter holds a certain gravitas, a personal touch absent in electronic forms. The act of committing thoughts to paper can be seen as a way to grapple with internal states. The physical act of writing—the careful forming of each letter—mirrors the shaping of one's thoughts and ideas. This letter, in its own way, becomes a cultural artifact, embodying not only the message it conveys but also the spirit of its creator.