Brief aan August Allebé Possibly 1895

This is a letter, ‘Brief aan August Allebé,’ created in 1895 by Ferdinand Leenhoff, its stark visual experience lies in the contrast between the cream paper and the dark ink of the handwriting. The script cascades down the page, a series of looping forms contained within the rigid structure of the letter format. The letter’s visual hierarchy guides our eye, from the printed hotel address at the top left to the fluid signature at the bottom right. Leenhoff’s handwriting, with its varying pressure and rhythm, functions as a direct expression of thought. This interplay between form and expression raises questions about the nature of communication. The letter exists as both a functional object and an aesthetic artifact. Its structure highlights a tension between its practical purpose and its potential for artistic interpretation. It invites us to consider how we assign value and meaning to everyday objects. The letter becomes a site of ongoing interpretation, shifting with each reading.