Conceptbrief aan anoniem 1877 - 1927

This is a letter by August Allebé, likely from the late 19th or early 20th century, currently housed in the Rijksmuseum. The visual impact of the letter is immediate: a dense field of script covering a creamy, aged paper. The ink bleeds slightly into the fibers, creating a soft, textured surface. The composition is informal, with lines of text flowing organically across the page. Allebé’s handwriting, a series of loops, ascenders, and descenders, creates a visual rhythm, a dance of form and line. This emphasis on script as visual form transcends its literal content. The letter functions as a semiotic structure, where each stroke, space, and flourish contributes to a larger aesthetic framework. This artwork destabilizes the conventional boundary between writing and drawing, between information and art. It suggests how everyday communication can hold aesthetic value, prompting us to reconsider the artistic potential within the mundane. In this way, Allebé elevates the personal letter to a considered form of visual expression, questioning fixed notions of art.