Brief aan Christiaan Kramm 1846 - 1875

This letter to Christiaan Kramm was composed by Joseph Meganck, likely in the mid-19th century. It's made using the simplest of materials: paper, ink, and the artist's own handwriting. The material itself, paper, has a texture and weight that speaks to its everyday use. Note how Meganck’s handwriting, while neat, is imbued with the urgency of communication, each stroke telling a story. It is far from a printed document, bearing witness to the direct engagement of the author with the page. Consider the social context: in a time before digital communication, a handwritten letter was a crucial means of staying connected. The act of writing, then sending this letter, represents a deliberate act of labor, a personal investment in the relationship between the sender and recipient. And we shouldn't forget the postal workers who were part of the process, ensuring the letter reached its destination. By valuing the physical materials and modes of communication, we enrich our appreciation of this artwork and its historical context.