Brief aan jonkheer Hendrik Teding van Berkhout (1879-1969) Possibly 1932

This is a letter, penned by Maurits de Groot in 1932, now residing at the Rijksmuseum. Its material simplicity belies its potential significance. De Groot likely used readily available paper and ink, common tools of communication. But the handwriting itself is key. The way the letters are formed, the pressure applied to the pen, the flourishes and corrections - all tell us about De Groot's education, his social standing, and the care he took in crafting this message. Consider the labor involved: the physical act of writing, the mental effort of composing the thoughts, and the social act of sending it. It speaks to a world where personal communication was a valued skill, a contrast to our digital age of instant, often impersonal, messaging. This letter transcends its function as a mere message, and becomes a tangible artifact of a specific time and place. It invites us to consider the value of handwritten correspondence, and the human connection embedded within it.