On 26 July 1806, Karoline von Günderrode committed suicide in Winkel am Rhein. In late August, Bettina Brentano wrote a letter to Achim von Arnim – with whom she had a fragile friendship at the time – informing him of events:

The unfortunate Günderode also suffered a terrible fate. She wanted to destroy the enemy that had restricted her freedom, and in her first and only attempt to do so, with a single thrust of her dagger, she pierced her own heart and threw away what should have been most dear to her. This terrible deed also pierced my heart, and I’ll carry the pain with me my entire life – it will influence many things. No one knows how closely it has touched me, how much I’ve gained and how much I’ve lost as a result. I’ve gained courage and truth, the courage to recognise and bear many things, but I’ve also lost a great deal. I’ll no longer grow attached to people so easily. I probably won’t grow attached to anything anymore and I’ll often have to struggle with pain and sorrow.
… I took a small boat to the place where it happened. When we see each other again, we can talk about how I fared there, how I felt differently about everything, how I looked at nature with a strange gaze. There were storm clouds in the sky, dark heavy clouds with beams of sunlight breaking through, and yet everything was magnificent. I felt in a unique way, and I’m glad I experienced it. I had a momentary desire, a longing, for a harbour – a heart – where I could safely gather my thoughts. All of them would have a place there, and no single thought would dislodge another.

The display case contains Arnim’s reply.