In 1913, American cartoonist Alfred Joseph Frueh sent his fiancée, Giuliette Fanciulli, a letter unlike any other. With a few careful cuts and folds, it transformed into a miniature art gallery—complete with tiny framed artworks, a paper doorway labeled “This Way In”, and a humorous sign that read, “Leave your hats and umbrellas at home. I ain’t got time to check them.”

See his letter here: https://www.aaa.si.edu/collections/items/detail/alfred-joseph-frueh-to-giuliette-fanciulli-1915

In this episode, I explore that letter in all its dimensional brilliance—what it meant then, why it still captivates today, and how you can create your own “art gallery letter” that invites someone into your inner world. Whether you’re a paper artist, a letter-writer, or someone who loves tactile beauty, this episode offers a little magic and a full tutorial.

💌 Includes a full step-by-step guide for making your own four-walled pop-up letter, inspired by Frueh’s design.

Watch the Tutorial Here: https://youtu.be/HcAX5ut4TWg?si=JFn5NYILc_JrWKN7

Sources & Archival Materials Referenced in This Episode:

— Smithsonian Archives of American Art: Alfred J. Frueh Papers

— Smithsonian Cooper Hewitt Design Museum: Spatial Writing exercise