Brief aan Johan Philip van der Kellen Possibly 1885

This letter to Johan Philip van der Kellen was penned in 1888 by Salomon van Witsen. The symbols lie not in grand gestures but in the very act of communication. Letters, since antiquity, have served as vessels of human connection across distances, tangible links between minds. Consider the handwritten word, a direct impression of the author’s psyche, each stroke imbued with personality. Its counterpart can be found in ancient Roman wax tablets used for personal correspondence, likewise bearing the intimate touch of the sender. But as printing emerged, this direct link seemed lost. Yet the letter still evokes a personal connection, a desire to bridge the gap. This letter reminds us that even in a world of increasing mechanization, the emotional power of human connection remains a potent force, perpetually resurfacing, evolving, and reminding us of our shared humanity across time.