Brief aan Jan Veth en Anna Dorothea Dirks c. 1891 - 1898

This is a letter penned by Jacoba Cornelia Jolles-Singels in August of 1891. Jolles-Singels, a woman writing in the late 19th century, invites us into her world, one shaped by social conventions and personal expression. The act of letter-writing itself speaks to the societal roles and expectations of women. Confined to the domestic sphere, correspondence became a vital means of connection and influence, a space for women to articulate their thoughts and emotions. Jolles-Singels uses it to forge and maintain bonds, sharing intimate details and expressing feelings of longing. The letter references the addressee's children and gives us a glimpse into the writer's domestic life. Embedded in the cursive script is a sense of intimacy and vulnerability. The language is informal, hinting at the close relationship between the writer and recipients. It is not just a message, but a piece of herself, offered across distance and time. It is a reminder of the emotional labor women often performed, nurturing relationships and maintaining social bonds. This letter remains a powerful testament to the lives and experiences of women navigating a world of constraints and possibilities.