Brief aan anoniem Possibly 1843 - 1845

This is a letter written by Fanny Geefs-Corr in Brussels on May 13, 1843. It’s addressed to an anonymous recipient. The letter’s content speaks volumes about the art world of 19th-century Belgium, and particularly the challenges faced by women artists. Geefs-Corr humbly requests that the recipient display her paintings in a prominent location, implying a struggle for visibility and recognition. The act of writing this letter, the delicate balance of deference and assertiveness, reflects the social constraints placed upon women seeking professional success. Geefs-Corr was the sister of painter Henriëtte Ronner-Knip and the wife of sculptor Joseph Geefs, placing her within a network of artists, yet still she had to advocate for herself in this way. To truly understand this letter, one might delve into exhibition records of the time, scrutinize the biographies of female artists, and explore the institutional biases that shaped their careers. The meaning of this artwork lies in the artist’s negotiations with the social and institutional norms of her time.