Brief aan Jan Weissenbruch 1839 - 1880

This letter was written by Reinier Craeyvanger, though its date is unknown. You can see that it is written in iron gall ink on paper. It was a standard writing material from the Middle Ages onwards, made from tannin, iron salts and a binder. The artist’s handwriting gives the letter a feeling of intimacy. The handwritten form is in contrast to our modern machine-printed text. The text is hard to read. It’s a message for a single reader, not a wide audience. Despite the apparent casualness of this missive, the process was laborious. Craeyvanger would have prepared the ink himself, or purchased it from a specialist. Then he would have carefully formed each letter. This is a testament to the inherent value in the work of writing, beyond the information being conveyed. The careful strokes of the pen form a connection between the writer and the reader. This highlights the importance of craft in understanding art, challenging the divide between fine art and everyday life.