Brief aan Christiaan Kramm Possibly 1861 - 1864

Ary Johannes Lamme penned this letter to Christiaan Kramm in Amsterdam, back in 1868. Look closely and you'll see the material reality of 19th-century communication. The paper, likely made from cotton or linen rags, feels substantial, embodying the permanence desired for important correspondence. Notice the ink. Its dark, iron-gall composition is made visible through Lamme's practiced hand. Each stroke, each flourish, reveals the skill of the writer, a skill once highly valued in a world before typewriters and word processors. Consider the time and labor involved in producing this letter: from preparing the ink, carefully cutting the quill, to composing the words. It’s a testament to a slower pace of life, a stark contrast to our instantaneous digital communications. This object reminds us that even the simplest materials carry cultural weight, connecting us to the past through the labor and the lives of those who came before.