Brief aan jonkheer Hendrik Teding van Berkhout (1879-1969) Possibly 1932

This is a letter, written in 1932 by the artist Henk Henriët to Jonkheer Hendrik Teding van Berkhout, director of the Rijksprentenkabinet. Henriët offers a portfolio of lithographs for sale, listing them with prices. The letter speaks to the economic realities faced by artists during the Depression era in the Netherlands. Artists often relied on patrons and institutions for support, and Henriët's letter provides a glimpse into this system. The Rijksmuseum, as a major cultural institution, played a key role in shaping the art market and supporting artists, but also in defining what art would be considered valuable cultural heritage. The detailed list of works, including subjects like "ice skaters" and "farmers," gives insight into the popular themes and styles of the time. To fully understand this letter, we might research the acquisition policies of the Rijksprentenkabinet or the economic conditions faced by artists in the Netherlands during the 1930s. This would reveal more about the social conditions that shaped artistic production during this time.