Brief aan anoniem Possibly 1897

Curator: This delicate work is entitled "Brief aan anoniem," or "Letter to Anonymous," possibly dating back to 1897, attributed to Salomon van Witsen. It’s executed in pen and ink, a drawing in its purest form. Editor: Immediately, I'm struck by the vulnerability of it, almost whispering across the page. The light ink and flowing script...it feels like a fleeting thought captured on paper. Curator: Considering the era and the labor involved in handwritten correspondence, even a seemingly casual note carries weight. Pen and ink were the materials of communication and creative expression, weren't they? Not cheap, but the very stuff of everyday writing. Editor: Absolutely. The graceful script almost dances across the page; each word rendered with obvious attention. The calligraphic flourish gives it a lovely cadence. It is an art form! It’s an everyday item transformed through artistry. Curator: Exactly! It challenges our notions of ‘high’ art versus craft by celebrating both skill and the functional purpose of writing. Even the act of carefully folding the paper to protect the words was a consideration. Who was this intended for and under what circumstances? And, of course, we ask how social norms dictate modes of communication between particular people at this time. Editor: The letter form is also such an intimate object, right? We rarely hand-write such things anymore; so there’s the inherent fragility of its survival as a record. The content almost fades into insignificance and what's left is purely an emotional resonance – who thought this beautiful thing should live beyond its sending, or even beyond their life? Curator: Precisely, by framing it, exhibiting it, we invite reflection on the material and social conditions that shaped not only the creation but its preservation as well. A drawing in ink it may be but a physical token of humanity preserved to our present! Editor: Beautifully said. It’s more than just a letter, then. It’s a quiet testament to a moment in time, imbued with unseen narratives. It leaves us pondering, dreaming about the unconfirmed past!