Brief aan Jan Veth Possibly 1893 - 1895

This is "Brief aan Jan Veth," a letter written by Jacoba Cornelia Jolles-Singels in 1873. A seemingly simple artifact, this handwritten note speaks volumes about the social context of its creation. Consider the materials: paper, ink, and the hand that guided the pen. Paper production, by this time, was industrialized, but handwriting remained a deeply personal act. The letter's content, though intimate, hints at broader issues of labor and economics, perhaps concerning money or obligations. We see the traces of careful penmanship, a skill acquired through education and practice, reflective of Jolles-Singels's social standing. The act of writing itself—the deliberate formation of each letter—becomes a form of craft. It reminds us that even everyday objects can carry significant cultural weight. By looking closely at materials and making, we move beyond the letter's literal meaning, revealing the social and economic fabric of its time, challenging any firm boundary between the fine and the functional.