Brief aan Willem Roelofs (I) Possibly 1841 - 1846

This letter, entitled "Brief aan Willem Roelofs (I)" was written by Hendrikus van de Sande Bakhuyzen. The paper's discolouration creates a stark contrast with the ink, drawing our eye to the meticulous script. The composition adheres to a clear structure: the body of the text, the salutation at the top, and the date and signature at the bottom. The act of writing a letter by hand introduces a tangible texture and rhythm, far removed from the uniformity of mechanical production. The letter is not merely a carrier of information; its materiality evokes a sense of intimacy and the passage of time. Consider how the semiotic elements—the handwriting, the language, the very paper—operate as signs within a cultural code of correspondence. Each element contributes to the artwork's meaning. This piece invites us to reflect on how we communicate, preserve memories, and relate to one another.