Brief aan Frans Buffa en Zonen Possibly 1888

Editor: We're looking at "Brief aan Frans Buffa en Zonen," a letter by Louis Apol, likely from 1888. It's ink on paper. It seems so personal, doesn't it? Like peering into someone's thoughts. What strikes you most about this piece? Curator: It’s interesting that you say 'personal.' To me, a letter is such a tangible manifestation of thought—a way of feeling someone’s presence across time, across the space between bodies. What can we possibly grasp of Louis Apol here? Look closely. There is such deliberate elegance in the handwriting, so neat and legible even now. How does that resonate with you? Editor: It feels almost formal, yeah. Not sloppy or rushed. Precise, even. It makes me wonder about his relationship with Frans Buffa en Zonen, the recipients. Curator: Indeed. Now, think about this existing within the Rijksmuseum's collection. Suddenly, it is no longer just personal. It transforms into something...else. Does this almost mundane, daily act transform through the institutional framework? I believe it does. How are we transformed just by virtue of engaging with the art piece itself? Editor: That makes total sense. By being here, in the museum, this ordinary letter is now a historical object and a cultural treasure. Even the artist’s signature becomes valuable, a collectible, which, when it was being written probably felt pretty utilitarian. Curator: Precisely. This tiny peek allows us to rewrite both the present and the past—all thanks to some paper, ink, and thoughtful intentionality! This small item can bring insight in many respects, it is only about perspective!