Brief aan Christiaan Kramm Possibly 1861 - 1863

Curator: We're looking at a drawing from the Rijksmuseum labeled "Brief aan Christiaan Kramm," potentially created between 1861 and 1863 by Adrianus Johannes Ehnle. The primary medium is ink, seemingly applied with a pen. Editor: The flowing script and soft color feel delicate, almost like viewing something intensely personal. The evenness of the handwriting also contributes to a serene quality. It really draws you in to wonder what he's sharing in this note. Curator: Considering this is a handwritten letter, the penmanship itself should be considered an artistic medium and method of self-expression of that time, alongside calligraphy practices. Was writing a skill that also mirrored status? Or the accessibility of fine paper to craft the letter on? I wonder how this labor mirrors, or reflects against artistic expectations. Editor: Exactly! This also brings the institutions involved to the surface, like the postal service allowing him to convey a message and form relationships and social circles outside his local area. Letters held tremendous social weight, performing almost the same function as digital media today in cementing relationships! And if this Kramm figure preserved this letter, this also sheds some light on his perspective or the nature of their bond... Curator: Right, the context of collecting comes into play: what criteria determine which letters, made of commonplace materials like paper and ink, become treasured possessions versus those simply discarded. Editor: Considering how fleeting communication is now, the sheer act of saving the letter points to how material culture operates on creating long-term significance and creating new possibilities from these records of lived moments. We've managed to bring his words, relationships, and his world alive after all these years. Curator: Agreed. Viewing art from this lens gives importance to objects we sometimes undervalue today. Editor: I concur. This makes us more grateful for the physical record held in this collection and challenges assumptions around its enduring place within social history.