Briefkaart aan Frans Buffa en Zonen Possibly 1890

This is a postcard, likely from the late 19th or early 20th century, penned by the Dutch artist Bernardus Johannes Blommers to Frans Buffa en Zonen, probably art dealers. Although simple, this object speaks volumes about the art world as a social network. The message itself is brief, but the act of sending a postcard suggests a relationship beyond mere commerce. It hints at the informal channels through which artists and dealers communicated and maintained connections. In the Netherlands at this time, artists often relied on dealers like Buffa to showcase and sell their work. To understand the full picture, one might delve into the archives of art galleries or artists' associations. Blommers, known for his genre scenes of Dutch life, depended on his dealer to get his work in front of the right collectors. The Rijksmuseum's collection and archives offer more information about this web of relationships and reveal the social conditions that shaped artistic careers.