Brief aan Frans Buffa en Zonen Possibly 1877 - 1878

Curator: What strikes me immediately is the directness of this piece; it’s as simple as it is profound. Editor: Agreed! We’re looking at "Brief aan Frans Buffa en Zonen", which translates to "Letter to Frans Buffa and Sons", likely created around 1877-1878 by William Unger. It’s currently held at the Rijksmuseum. It is made with ink on paper, seemingly a pen-ink sketch. Curator: Exactly. The bare bones of communication are on display; you have paper, ink, script—the physical embodiment of an exchange. Editor: And the human hand. To think that someone physically crafted these words with such intent. The slanted script almost appears as though the handwriting is about to dance off the page, yet everything seems tightly considered in placement and proportion. I mean, it's the original "analog" if you think about it. Curator: Precisely! The act of inscription carries a wealth of meaning, embodying the artist's labor and intellectual property in one go. It wasn't some mechanical reproduction that carries no such human touch. This reveals much about both the artistic circles, as well as printing businesses of that era, particularly around how an artist interacted with reproductive processes such as prints. Editor: Indeed! I wonder what secrets are held inside this message. You almost want to crawl inside of it, don't you? Imagine being in their heads. Curator: I find it so simple, yet so indicative of late 19th century processes within art making. This era saw artists working alongside commercial entities in interesting ways, a trend still applicable today as well when discussing the relations of art and capital. Editor: And on the viewer as well - because by placing the art-making front and centre it almost blurs the boundary of spectator with producer; don't you think? I feel part of the process, almost like I have a shared history now. Curator: I quite agree! I believe that such unassuming pieces provide vital insight to processes within the art world. They speak clearly of collaboration between artisans, and remind us about an exchange relationship through materiality and production. Editor: It feels appropriate somehow; almost comforting. What an illuminating conversation.