Brief aan anoniem 1848 - 1927

This is a letter written by August Allebé, likely around 1910, now held in the Rijksmuseum. It seems to be addressed to an anonymous recipient, in which he offers a reflection on the truth in art. Let’s consider this object in the context of the late 19th and early 20th century Dutch art world. Allebé was a prominent figure, directing the Rijksakademie van beeldende kunsten in Amsterdam for many years. We might consider this letter as a personal reflection on the nature of art institutions. What does it mean to uphold a truth in art, as opposed to a false appearance of it? Was Allebé commenting on the conservative nature of the institution he directed? Or defending traditional values against the rise of modernism? To understand this letter fully, we would need to research Allebé’s biography, the history of the Rijksakademie, and the debates around artistic value in the Netherlands at the time.