Brief aan Adriaan van der Willigen Possibly 1825

This letter was written by Sophie Rude to Adriaan van der Willigen. Though we can't say for sure when it was written, we can assume that it was some time during the 19th century, given that Sophie Rude lived from 1797 to 1867. Made with paper and ink, the beauty of this artwork lies not only in its contents, but also in its execution: the precise formation of letters, the consistent slant of the script, the even spacing between lines. All of this speaks to years of practice with a quill. Penmanship was once considered an essential skill, particularly for women of a certain social standing, because it was seen as an accomplishment but also a potential source of income, or at least, a contribution to the household’s economy. Letters like this were not just a form of communication, but also a form of self-presentation, as they were judged on their aesthetic qualities as much as their content. Looking closely at the form of the handwriting here is as important as reading the words themselves.