Brief aan August Allebé Possibly 1915

This letter was penned by jonkheer Barthold Willem Floris van Riemsdijk in 1915. The ink on paper reveals the thoughts and intentions of the author through the handwritten text. Van Riemsdijk inquires to August Allebé about a gift to be presented to King Willem III, to celebrate his 25th anniversary as King. This was a gift from schoolchildren in the form of a silver bell tree design. The materiality of this letter, the very act of handwriting, conveys social significance. It speaks of a time when personal correspondence was a crafted and considered act, a world away from our digital communications today. The contrast between the labor of handwriting and the subject matter – a gift for royalty – brings to mind questions of class and privilege. This humble letter gives us a glimpse into the social and political landscape of the time. By considering the material and process, we uncover layers of meaning beyond the surface of the artwork.