Brief aan August Allebé Possibly 1902 - 1918

This letter was written by Johannes Hubertus Leonardus de Haas in 1902. The sepia color creates a feeling of warmth which juxtaposes the very elegant and cursive writing in dark ink. I can imagine the artist carefully forming each word, using elegant gestures to fill the page. I wonder what he was thinking as he wrote this letter to August Allebé, a contemporary artist and friend. There's something so intimate about handwritten correspondence, so different from the digital communication we're all used to now. It seems Johannes is thanking August for his support and mentioning a photograph of a Rembrandt painting that he found interesting. He also mentions something about winter and vacation. It is fascinating how the surface itself carries the traces of time, the ink fading and the paper yellowing, yet the words remain. Looking at this letter, I'm reminded of the ongoing conversation between artists, how we inspire and support each other across time. Painting, like writing, is an embodied expression, embracing ambiguity and allowing for multiple interpretations.