Brief aan Jan Veth Possibly 1895

This letter was written by Cornelis Winkler on January 1, 1895. It's created using humble materials: paper and ink. It’s easy to overlook something like this, but the physical act of handwriting is central to its meaning. Think about the time it took Winkler to carefully form each word with a dip pen. The consistency of the ink, the absorbency of the paper, even the pressure of his hand – all these factors would influence the appearance of the text. Notice the elegant loops and flourishes, the way the lines of text gently curve across the page. All this reflects Winkler’s personal touch, his character rendered visible through the act of writing. This contrasts sharply with our contemporary modes of communication: typed emails, instant messages, and social media posts. The act of handwriting, with its inherent slowness and intimacy, becomes a deliberate choice, a way of imbuing the message with meaning. It elevates the letter from a mere conveyance of information to a personal artifact.