Handschrift betreffende Wessel Pieter Ruwersma Possibly 1861 - 1867

This handwritten document, likely from the late 18th century, is rendered with iron gall ink on paper by Hendrik Gerzée. The script cascades across the page in dense, rhythmic lines, creating a textured surface that is both visually and tactilely engaging. The formal qualities of this handwriting—the loops, the varying thickness of the strokes, and the overall composition—are all expressive elements. Each character, while contributing to a legible text, asserts itself as an abstract form. The density of the writing challenges the eye, inviting a close reading not just of the content but also of the physical act of inscription. The document destabilizes our expectations of archival material. It challenges fixed meanings by allowing the personality of the author to come through the medium of the handwriting. The visual and material presence reminds us that texts are not just vessels of information but also objects imbued with history and human agency.