Brief aan August Allebé Possibly 1890

This letter was written in 1890 in Amsterdam by Wilhelmus Molkenboer. It gives us insight into the artistic and academic circles of the late 19th century Netherlands. Molkenboer, writing from the Rijksschool voor Tekenonderwijzers, a state school for drawing teachers, addresses August Allebé, likely seeking his involvement with the ‘Professor Friedrich Gesellschaft.’ This suggests a network of academics and artists, possibly involved in educational or artistic reform. The letter subtly highlights the institutional structures that shaped artistic life. Artists often relied on official appointments for income and social standing, and institutions like the Rijksschool played a key role in standardizing artistic training. Further research into the Friedrich Gesellschaft and the Rijksschool would reveal more about the social and intellectual currents of the time. We might explore the archives of artistic organizations, educational institutions, and personal papers of artists like Molkenboer and Allebé. The letter serves as a reminder that art does not exist in a vacuum but is tied to social conditions.