Brief aan de commissie van de Tentoonstelling van Levende Meesters in Haarlem Possibly 1825

This is a letter written by Dirk Piebes Sjollema in 1825. Its material presence conveys an immediate intimacy. The paper itself, likely handmade, shows the texture of its making, with fibers subtly visible beneath the ink. Sjollema's handwriting, elegant yet hurried, reveals the directness of his communication, like a sketch capturing an immediate thought. The ink, probably iron gall, would have been mixed on-site. The controlled flow of the pen, the pressure and release creating thick and thin strokes, shows the writer's practiced hand. This artifact speaks to the labor of communication in a pre-industrial age. Each word meticulously formed, each page carefully filled. The letter reminds us of the time and effort invested in correspondence. It is a potent reminder of how physical materials and skilled practices intertwine with social and cultural exchange.