Schrijfvoorbeeld: Edele welgeboorne vermogende (...) 1605

This calligraphic page was made in the early 17th century by Cornelis Dircksz. Boissens, with ink on paper. Look closely, and you can see the extraordinary level of control required to make this kind of script. Notice how the lines vary in thickness, giving real dynamism to the letterforms. The paper itself is relatively unadorned, which puts all the emphasis on the artist’s skillful choreography of the pen. This wasn't just writing; it was a performance of mastery, a demonstration of elite training. In the Dutch Republic, handwriting was serious business. Professional scribes were essential to commerce and governance, and a flourishing market existed for instruction manuals, model books, and expertly rendered examples like this one. Boissens was at the top of that profession. So next time you sign your name, remember that even handwriting has a history – one of skill, labor, and social meaning. It reminds us that fine art and craft are intertwined.