Brief aan Adriaan van der Willigen Possibly 1811 - 1820

This letter was written by G. Vermeulen to Adriaan van der Willigen, presumably in the Netherlands, on handmade paper using iron gall ink. Look closely at the material; the fibers give the surface a gentle texture, each sheet unique. Now think about the labor involved. From preparing the pulped linen or cotton, to pressing and drying the sheets, paper production was intensely manual. Iron gall ink was similarly handmade, from tannin and iron salts, its acidity gradually biting into the paper over centuries. You can see the ink's reaction with the paper in the faded areas of the letter. This letter offers a window into the pre-industrial world, where everyday materials carried the imprint of skilled labor. It reminds us that even simple documents involved complex production chains, and a wealth of traditional knowledge. Examining the materiality of the letter helps us to see beyond its textual content, and appreciate the work that went into its creation.