Wensbrief met een herder met schapen 1812 - 1849

This New Year’s card with a shepherd and sheep was made by Theodorus Johannes Wijnhoven-Hendriksen in the Netherlands. It combines calligraphy with illustration, offering a glimpse into the cultural values and artistic practices of the time. New Year's cards, or 'wensbrieven,' were popular in the 18th and 19th-century Netherlands, especially among the artisan classes. These cards, often commissioned from local artists, served as a form of social currency, reinforcing community bonds. The imagery typically blended religious symbolism with pastoral scenes, reflecting a desire for prosperity and well-being in the coming year. The meticulously crafted calligraphy elevates a humble message into a work of art. As historians, we can learn more about the artist and the social context by looking into local archives, guild records, and family histories. This helps us understand the artist’s place within the community, the patronage system, and the cultural values that shaped his artistic output.