Brief aan Frans Buffa en Zonen Possibly 1877 - 1879

This is a letter to Frans Buffa en Zonen, written in 1874 by William Unger, a Dutch engraver known for his portraits and reproductions of Old Master paintings. Unger lived through a time of shifting artistic values, as photography began to challenge traditional printmaking. In this missive, penned in elegant script, Unger communicates with the art dealers, likely about business matters. The language suggests a formal, yet cordial relationship between the artist and the dealers, a glimpse into the economic structures that supported artistic production. It is fascinating to consider the labor and social dynamics inherent in this exchange. Unger, an artist of some repute, is still dependent on the patronage and commercial networks facilitated by figures like Buffa. Letters like this remind us that art is never created in a vacuum, it is always a product of social and economic relationships, reflecting the identities and power structures of its time.