Bief aan Adriaan van der Willigen Possibly 1825 - 1828

This is a letter to Adriaan van der Willigen by Sophie de Koningh, created around 1825. The dominant visual experience is one of scripted text across the page, the flow of the ink marks creating a texture. It evokes an emotional response linked to language, communication, and the personal touch of handwriting. The script reflects the formal writing practices of its time. Here, the arrangement of the text, the careful spacing, and the elegant script become a semiotic system. The act of writing, especially in this formal style, challenges the casual, everyday communication, and establishes a power dynamic where the writer asserts authority through structured language. The visual elements of the letter, from the choice of script to the arrangement of text, function within a broader cultural discourse. The overall composition suggests a highly controlled and deliberate act of communication, functioning not just aesthetically but also as part of a larger social discourse on civility, education, and social hierarchy.