Aantekening betreffende Henk Henriët after 18

This anonymous note, now residing in the Rijksmuseum, was written on paper in 1951. It concerns Henricus Antonius Henriët, a name now inscribed in the annals of history. Consider the act of recording information, especially of historical events, as a preservation of memory and a way to safeguard against oblivion. The careful script, the deliberate act of documentation: all these are imbued with an emotional power, a deep, subconscious need to preserve and remember. The act of writing itself is a ritual. Think of ancient scribes painstakingly copying texts, or medieval monks illuminating manuscripts. This simple note evokes that same impulse. In this light, the note is not merely a document but a symbolic act resonating across time, reminding us of humanity’s timeless desire to make sense of the past. A poignant reflection on history's cyclical nature and our inherent desire to preserve and interpret the events that shape us.