Brief aan de commissie van de Tentoonstelling van Levende Meesters in Den Haag Possibly 1843 - 1844

This letter was written in Rotterdam in April 1855 by Jan Hendrik van de Laar. It’s comprised of ink on paper – everyday materials for its time, but hardly neutral. The handwriting, the careful formulation of phrases: all this reveals the amount of time and effort van de Laar put into this missive. But more than that, it speaks to the social context of the art world, of the artist’s dependence on the good opinion of the “Commissie van de Tentoonstelling van Levende Meesters in Den Haag.” He is writing to persuade the committee to exhibit his painting. The letter itself is a carefully crafted artifact. The artist is keenly aware of his position in the social hierarchy, and although he presents himself as a humble servant, he is also canny, knowing exactly who he needs to impress. It’s a performance, which reminds us that “art” is just one part of the larger picture of creative production.