Brief aan anoniem Possibly 1904

This is “Brief aan anoniem”, written in 1907 by the Dutch artist Adolf le Comte, and done with ink on paper. We see a quickly rendered, handwritten note, made using the most fundamental of tools: a nib and an inkwell. While the letter’s material construction seems simple, the subject of the text hints at much more labor-intensive processes. Le Comte refers to copper engravings made by L.A. Claessens after paintings by Rembrandt. The letter specifically mentions a series of portraits. Engraving and painting are obviously very different, so it’s interesting that the letter is about interpreting one medium into another. This highlights the social dimension of making: each of the artists mentioned here was working in a context of patronage and exchange. The letter itself, a humble handwritten document, is connected to this history of social relations through material culture. It prompts us to consider these figures, what they made, and why.