Schrijfvoorbeeld: Nicomanes un homme (...) 1605

Cornelis Dircksz. Boissens created this exemplar of calligraphy sometime in the late 16th or early 17th century. As a master of the pen, Boissens navigated a society deeply structured by class, where literacy and elegant handwriting were potent symbols of status and education. The flourishes and precise lettering aren't merely decorative; they communicate power, and social standing. The text itself, though difficult to decipher today, would have been a reflection of the values and intellectual pursuits of the time, perhaps echoing classical learning or religious devotion. Consider the labor and skill required to produce such a piece before the age of mechanical reproduction; each stroke embodies both artistry and a claim to authority. This art was not just about writing, it was about performing identity through the hand. It makes you wonder about who was taught to write, and what the act of writing meant in their lives.