Brief aan Adriaan van der Willigen 1820 - 1822

This letter was written by Jan Willem Pieneman to Adriaan van der Willigen, though we do not know exactly when. The sweeping calligraphic gestures, rendered in dark ink, immediately recall ancient methods of communicating. Letter-writing itself is a ritual, isn’t it? A way to bridge distances, physical and emotional. Consider the folded paper, once a blank slate, now filled with intent and emotion, not unlike the opened scroll in ancient Greek art. The careful construction of sentences parallels the composition of an artwork, each word chosen to convey a particular meaning or feeling. The signature at the bottom, Pieneman’s mark, is reminiscent of a personal emblem. It asserts the artist’s identity. It's a powerful act of self-assertion that transcends time. The written word, like an image, carries within it a silent power, a presence that lingers long after the hand has moved on.