Handschrift betreffende Willem Jacob Herreyns c. 1840 - 1841

This is a handwritten document concerning Willem Jacob Herreyns, made by Johannes Immerzeel. It resides in the Rijksmuseum. Although the document lacks a specific creation date, we know Immerzeel worked in the late 18th and early 19th centuries, a time of significant political and social change in Europe. The document is likely related to the institutional assessment or historicization of Herreyns's work, perhaps for an exhibition or publication. Immerzeel's text offers an insight into the politics of imagery and artistic reputation. How were artists like Herreyns viewed and understood in their own time and by later generations? What role did institutions play in shaping their legacy? Understanding the social conditions that shaped artistic production is crucial to my work as a historian. Archival research into exhibition records, reviews, and biographical accounts can shed light on the cultural and institutional context in which Herreyns and Immerzeel operated.