Briefkaart aan August Allebé Possibly 1890

This is an address-side of a postcard to August Allebé, an important figure in the Dutch art world. The card itself, with its printed text in French and Dutch, gives us a glimpse into the rapidly expanding infrastructure for communication at the turn of the twentieth century. The reference to the "Union Postale Universelle" reminds us of the globalizing forces at work, connecting artists across national borders. The presence of a Belgian postage stamp tells us something about the movements of artists, and their networks. The address, "Singel 386, Amsterdam", is a detail of the social and institutional context of art: Singel was a canal-side street known for its grand houses. Historians might consult postal archives, artists' biographies, and exhibition catalogs to understand the social and institutional networks that shaped art in this period. This simple card shows that the meaning of art is always contingent on its social and institutional context.