Brief aan Pieter Haverkorn van Rijsewijk 1899

This letter was penned by Paul Joseph Constantin Gabriël in January 1897. Note the calligraphic symbols of language—the graceful swirls of the letters, the deliberate strokes forming words. Letters, throughout time, have served as potent symbols. Think of the Rosetta Stone, unlocking ancient Egyptian hieroglyphs, or the Apostle Paul's epistles, shaping early Christian theology. Each character is not merely ink on parchment, but a vessel carrying meaning, emotion, and intention across distances. Consider, too, the psychological weight a letter can bear: a love letter, a declaration of war, a message of hope from a prisoner. The act of writing, the choice of words, and even the script itself, all contribute to the emotional and psychological impact of the message. The handwritten form is a testament to the human touch, a direct connection between sender and receiver, engaging us on a subconscious level. This letter, in its own way, embodies the enduring power of symbols, reminding us of the non-linear progression of communication and its profound effect on the human psyche.