Telegram aan Willem Johann Martens 1874 - 1887

This is a telegram, a relic from a bygone era of rapid communication, sent by Frans Buffa en Zonen. The telegram's stark simplicity belies the urgency and importance it once held. The name and address point us to Rome, connecting the message to a hub of art and cultural exchange. The message itself, written in French, speaks of accepting a watercolor and instructing that its sale be halted immediately. The act of telegramming – a rapid, almost desperate form of communication – underscores the significance of this particular artwork. We see how the urgency to convey information transcends time and reappears in contemporary digital communications. Consider the emotional intensity behind this swift exchange. The message carries weight beyond its literal meaning, hinting at the passionate, complex, and sometimes fraught relationship between artists, patrons, and the art market.