Brief aan Christiaan Kramm Possibly 1860 - 1868

This is a letter from 1860 by Henricus Engelbertus Reijntjens. The text is in Dutch and provides a glimpse into the life of an artist navigating the 19th-century art world. Reijntjens details aspects of his identity, mentioning his birth date, parents and marriage. As a painter, his words reveal the social and economic realities that shaped artistic careers. He writes about exhibiting his paintings, and his attempts to gain recognition. The letter speaks to the struggle for artists to find their place and voice within established artistic hierarchies. Reijntjens’ letter becomes a personal testimony. It speaks to the emotional investment and vulnerability inherent in the act of creation and display. In a world where artistic success was tied to patronage and public acceptance, the artist’s pursuit was not merely a professional endeavor but a deeply personal one.