Brief aan anoniem Possibly 1861 - 1868

This letter was written by Hendrik Albert van Trigt in 1861 using paper, ink, and a steady hand. But let’s not overlook these commonplace materials. Paper production in the 19th century was rapidly industrializing, shifting from handmade sheets to machine-made rolls. This transition had significant social implications, as skilled papermakers faced displacement by factories. Ink, too, was becoming standardized, affecting penmanship styles. The act of handwriting itself was a marker of social class, a skill acquired through education and practice. Consider the labor involved in producing this letter: from the harvesting of raw materials for the paper and ink, to the intellectual labor of composing the message. These processes imbue the artwork with cultural significance, reflecting both the intimacy of personal correspondence and the broader forces of industrialization and class distinction at play during that time. By attending to these seemingly mundane details, we gain a richer understanding of the material, the making, and the context of this letter.