Briefkaart aan August Allebé Possibly 1888

Curator: What a find! This is a postcard addressed to August Allebé, likely dating back to 1888, created by Jérôme Alexander Sillem, rendered with pen and ink. It really captures a moment in time. Editor: My first thought is: elegance! The scripted hand is gorgeous, even the stamp seems carefully placed, and somehow imbues a sense of history and… perhaps urgency? A message that needed delivering! Curator: Definitely elegant, it speaks to the artistic circles of the late 19th century. Allebé, to whom it's addressed, was the director of the Rijksakademie. Sillem, known for his societal engagement, perhaps was writing regarding an exhibit or invitation. It’s almost a miniature work of art. Editor: I am mesmerized by the layers here – both literal and figurative. The precise, almost architectural hand-lettering, next to the very tactile impression of postal marks that suggest journey, adds an incredibly poignant feeling. It's a confluence of bureaucracy and individual touch, public transit and intimate discourse all captured on a small card. Curator: Absolutely. And let’s think about the politics of correspondence at the time. A handwritten letter held so much weight. There's a formality but also a personal investment missing today. Imagine the intent! Editor: It definitely provides a moment for quiet contemplation, to remind us that the things we communicate now, online, will not likely age the same way! Something feels lost in the speed of digital correspondence. Curator: Exactly! It's also a peek into a world where artistic communities communicated differently, perhaps more thoughtfully. Each letter an opportunity to express ideas visually, even practically and administratively! Editor: It's funny to think something so seemingly commonplace – mail! – could carry such weight. Thank you, postcard, for that. Curator: Thanks! A delightful piece, underscoring that history and personality often reside in the everyday objects.