Brief aan de heer Peters 1780 - 1836

Curator: This is Johannes Jelgerhuis's "Brief aan de heer Peters," created between 1780 and 1836, using pen and ink on paper. It's held at the Rijksmuseum. It strikes me as surprisingly modern in its abstraction. What do you make of it? Editor: It's fascinating. I notice how the ink and paper become the central focus, highlighting the materiality of communication. This wasn't just about transmitting words; it was about the labor and the physical act of writing. Curator: Precisely. The choice of pen and ink – think about the laborious process of creating and preparing those materials. Consider the quill itself: who owned it, how skilled was the scribe, what were their social circumstances impacting this task of transcription? It removes the romance from the supposed 'art' of calligraphy, placing it squarely into a system of production. Do you agree? Editor: Absolutely, viewing the letter's function rather than aesthetic shifts the focus to social practices. Who was Mr. Peters, what was their relationship, and how does this single-sided written message challenge contemporary digital interactions? Curator: It compels us to reconsider artistic value beyond aesthetic appeal. Here, we see process, access to materials, and even literacy itself become critical components of understanding the piece. Are we not witnessing a moment captured within specific means of production? Editor: It does make you think about the privilege inherent in the production and reception of art. That, in turn, demands new ways of looking at all forms of visual art! Curator: And hopefully, about challenging existing artistic hierarchies based on medium or craftsmanship. Thank you!