Kwitantie voor Jan Vrolijk Possibly 1874

This receipt was drafted by Frans Buffa en Zonen in 1874, using ink on paper. But let’s not overlook the material qualities of this document. Think about the labour involved in producing handmade paper at the time. It was a skilled trade, requiring an intimate knowledge of materials, processes, and tools. Now, consider the ink, carefully mixed and applied with a practiced hand. The elegant script, flowing effortlessly across the page, speaks to the importance of penmanship in 19th-century commerce. Notice how the ornamental flourish on the left adds a touch of sophistication, elevating the receipt beyond a mere transaction record. But this receipt is more than just a beautiful object. It’s a window into the economic realities of the art world at the time. Forty guilders for a drawing – what did that represent in terms of the artist's labour, materials, and reputation? Looking closely at these objects helps us understand the relationship between artistic production, commerce, and the value we assign to creative work.