Brief aan Pieter Haverkorn van Rijsewijk 1898 - 1915

This is Matthijs Maris’s “Brief aan Pieter Haverkorn van Rijsewijk,” a handwritten letter by the artist, though the exact date of its making is unknown. Maris belonged to a family of artists in the Netherlands in the 19th century, a period characterized by industrialization and social change. This letter offers us a glimpse into the personal life of the artist, who writes to a certain Mr. Haverkorn van Rijsewijk, his tone swinging between jocularity and deep familiarity. Maris mentions his daughter and makes several personal observations about his correspondent’s character. It is interesting to consider the letter as an intimate form of expression, indicative of the social and personal networks that sustained artists. This letter is a testament to the intertwining of personal relationships and artistic practice.