Brief aan Filippo Tessaro 1851 - 1907

Curator: Before us, we have Matthijs Maris’ "Brief aan Filippo Tessaro," likely dating between 1851 and 1907. This mixed-media work, featuring ink on paper, resides here at the Rijksmuseum. It appears to be a fragment from the artist’s personal sketchbook. Editor: My immediate impression is of intimacy. The delicate handwriting, the small scale, it feels like a private communication made visible. There is a certain charm to the texture of the page. Curator: Indeed. Maris, while writing to his acquaintance Tessaro, inadvertently gifts us a snapshot of cultural assimilation. His astonishment at Tessaro’s flawless Dutch underscores themes of cultural fluidity and the performance of identity. One’s adopted culture can become nearly indistinguishable from the native. Editor: Structurally, notice the asymmetry. The text isn't rigidly centered. The script itself becomes a visual element, full of flourish. How the downstrokes weight the words. Also, there are visible corrections, suggesting the creative process unfolding in real-time, or revealing that this piece, though ephemeral, had important considerations of language for its author. Curator: Consider also the inherent power dynamics present in correspondence, in choosing to perform in another language as an invitation to inclusion and conversation. By shifting to English within the letter, Maris seems to acknowledge a mutual space where cultural identities converge. His awareness highlights the continuous negotiation between native and adopted cultures within individuals. This letter is then evidence that Filippo speaks at least two languages! Editor: Absolutely, and observe the tonal shifts, as if the shades vary from line to line, deepening with his investment in the details. He starts with factual statements, which lead to reflection at the finish: this progression reveals shifts in the artistic psyche as he comes to terms with these complex matters. Curator: Maris offers a candid perspective into intercultural dynamics, showcasing the nuances of identity in transit. Editor: And viewed through the lens of semiotics, a letter—ostensibly for practical communication—transforms into a rich, layered artifact worthy of museum display. Curator: By examining how Maris intertwines personal experiences with broader cultural dynamics, we can begin to understand the complex nature of cultural blending. Editor: The act of inscription becomes another, quieter form of the image making in Maris' oeuvre.