Kwitantie voor de heer Househoven Possibly 1770 - 1772

This receipt was written in 1740 by Gerrit Kamphuysen with a quill and ink on paper. The handwriting has flourishes that reflect the precision of the craft, and is typical of the mercantile class. The receipt acknowledges payment from Mr. Househoven for the sum of 20 guilders for the painting of three portraits. The ink, a simple mix of tannin, iron salts, and gum arabic, has a brown hue, due to the passage of time. Paper making was already an established trade in the 18th century, where rags were processed to produce sheets of paper. A specialized product, writing with ink on paper was tied to administration and trade. The receipt reveals social connections between artist and patron. In commissioning artwork, Mr Househoven reinforced his status, while Kamphuysen received payment for his labor. The value imbued in these portraits extended beyond mere likeness, to the labor, materials, and social context of their creation.