Brief aan G.M.C. Hooft, secretaris van de commissie van de Tentoonstelling van Levende Meesters in Den Haag Possibly 1841 - 1844

Edouard Delvaux crafted this letter, "Brief aan G.M.C. Hooft," using paper, ink, and meticulous handwriting. It's not just a form of communication, but an artifact imbued with the sensibilities of its time. The paper itself, likely handmade or early machine-made, speaks of a period transitioning from artisanal to industrial production. Note the ink, probably iron gall, a standard writing medium then, its recipe a complex blend of tannins, iron salts, and gum arabic. The careful penmanship reflects the importance placed on legible, artful handwriting – a skill honed through years of practice, and a signifier of education and status. The letter serves as a connection to 19th-century social structures, labor, and class divisions, as creating it involved not just time, but access to materials and education, things not equally available. By considering these material aspects, we can understand the letter not just as a message, but as a product of its era, blurring the boundaries between communication, craft, and social history.