Brief aan Jan Hendrik Maschaupt Possibly 1874

This is a letter written in French by Adolphe Mouilleron, dating back to 1876. It offers a glimpse into the intimate world of correspondence in 19th-century France, a time marked by social and political change. Mouilleron’s script carries with it the weight of personal concerns, and perhaps speaks to the delicate social dance of maintaining connections during a period of shifting norms. The handwritten nature of this letter situates it within a specific class and gender context, reflecting the traditional roles assigned to letter-writing as a form of emotional and social labor. What’s particularly striking about this piece is its emotional resonance. There's a sense of urgency, a need to share news and maintain ties across distances. This need speaks to the universal human desire for connection and the specific challenges of maintaining those connections. We can only imagine what it meant to eagerly await news and newells in a world without instant communication. Ultimately, this letter serves as a reminder of the personal dimensions of history, inviting us to consider the lives and experiences of those who came before us.