Brief aan G.M.C. Hooft, secretaris van de commissie van de Tentoonstelling van Levende Meesters in Den Haag Possibly 1841 - 1844

This is a letter written by Pieter George Westenberg to G.M.C. Hooft, secretary of the committee of the Exhibition of Living Masters in The Hague. Written in 1841, this letter offers a glimpse into the institutional structures of the art world in the Netherlands at that time. The Rijksmuseum, where the letter is now held, plays a key role in determining which works are considered important enough to preserve. This act of preservation invariably reinforces existing artistic hierarchies. The letter itself, with its elegant script, underscores the importance of correspondence and networks in the art world of the 19th century. The writer's tone and the formal structure of the letter reflect a particular set of social conventions and expectations. These conventions dictated how artists communicated with those who had the power to promote or reject their work. By studying such documents, we can better understand the complex social conditions that shape artistic production and reception.