Aantekening betreffende de oprichting van een standbeeld van Rembrandt 1849

This document, penned by Martinus Gerardus Tetar van Elven, is a window into 19th-century artistic patronage. Executed in ink on paper, its material simplicity belies its grand subject: the founding of a statue dedicated to Rembrandt. The fluid strokes and tight kerning suggest a practiced hand, and the document offers insights into the economic structures supporting artistic endeavors at the time. Note that the artist does not use traditional art materials, but those of everyday life. The text details the financial commitment required – nine hundred guilders – revealing the investment needed for such a public monument. The very act of writing, the physical labor of committing ink to paper, mirrors the labor required to realize the statue itself. This piece reminds us that art is not created in a vacuum. It emerges from networks of funding, labor, and materials, blurring the lines between artistic creation, craftsmanship, and economic realities.