Brief aan Burgemeester en Wethouders 1911 - 1917

This is a letter, written in Amsterdam in July 1911 by August Allebé, probably with a steel nib pen and iron gall ink. It’s a humble refusal to sit on some art committee. I find it so human, this little sketch of a moment, of a person, declining politely. The beauty of this letter is in its textures, the subtle grid of the paper, the way the ink bleeds and pools in certain spots, and fades in others. You can almost feel the artist's hand moving across the page, the pressure of the pen, the rhythm of the words. I love how the script seems to be a cross between drawing and writing, with each character having a life of its own. It’s not just about the meaning, but the feel of the thing. This piece reminds me of Cy Twombly, in the way that it elevates the everyday act of writing to something poetic and profound. It makes you think about the art of letter writing, of communication, of being human. It reminds us that art isn't always about grand gestures, but about the small, intimate moments that make up our lives. It’s a gentle reminder to find beauty in the mundane, and to see the art in everything.