Brief aan E.H. Schüller-Audretsch Possibly 1915

Curator: Looking at "Brief aan E.H. Schüler-Audretsch," possibly from 1915, by Albert Roelofs, an ink drawing on paper… Notice how even communication is labor, materialized through penmanship. Editor: Yes, I was struck by how tactile it feels, even though it’s just words on paper. It's not just about the information being conveyed, but also the visible act of writing itself. How would you interpret this piece in that light? Curator: Precisely! It raises the question: What constitutes 'art' versus a functional document? Here, the act of handwriting elevates it. Ink and paper become the tools, much like a painter uses pigment and canvas. Roelofs’ deliberate strokes, the pressure applied to the nib, the very quality of the paper…all speak to the maker’s hand and the process of conveying feeling. How does its status as a letter, a functional item designed for use and then, discard, alter your reception of its worth? Editor: That’s a good point. Knowing it’s a letter, part of me wonders about its reception: was it carefully preserved, tossed away, tucked between the pages of a book? This consideration really does add another layer of context to its "material" value and existence. It encourages a broader perspective of viewing even practical, disposable products, as potential documents with artistic merits and valuable human connection. Curator: Exactly! And think about the socio-economic implications. Who had access to paper and ink during that period? Literacy itself was a form of privilege. This letter, therefore, becomes an artifact embedded with complex markers. Considering production value really brings out the full potential this medium could deliver! Editor: This has totally transformed my perspective. Now I see how the act of writing, the materials used, and even the intended recipient, are all crucial parts of understanding this drawing. Curator: It is all interlinked. Recognizing "making" as material engagement dissolves hierarchical notions of what gets elevated to "art" to begin with!