Brief aan August Allebé Possibly 1887

This letter to August Allebé was carefully inscribed by Johannes Bakker Korff Jr., using ink on paper. Note the particular qualities of these materials, which at the time would have been relatively accessible, yet also precious. Consider the labour involved, both mental and physical, in the drafting and writing of this correspondence. It is unlikely that Korff Jr. had access to a typewriter, let alone a modern computer. Instead, this letter bears witness to the slow, deliberate process of handwriting, each word carefully formed with a quill or pen. The very act of writing was a skilled craft, taught through rigorous schooling, and indicative of a certain level of education and social standing. Paying attention to the materiality of this letter allows us to understand the social context in which it was created, challenging any perceived divide between communication, craft, and art.