Kwitantie voor Hendrik Adriaan Christiaan Dekker Possibly 1860 - 1863

This is a receipt made by Frans Buffa en Zonen in Amsterdam on March 12th, 1860, acknowledging payment from Hendrik Adriaan Christiaan Dekker. Although seemingly a simple document, it provides insight into the commercial art world of the Netherlands in the mid-19th century. The receipt details a payment of forty guilders for a lithograph after Ruisdael, a famous landscape painter from the Dutch Golden Age. This tells us about the art market at the time, the prices of prints, and the enduring popularity of certain artists. It reflects a burgeoning industry of art reproduction that emerged alongside advancements in printmaking technology, such as lithography. With lithography, artworks became more accessible and affordable to a wider audience. Examining archival records, business ledgers, and period advertisements can enrich our understanding of such receipts. By studying these historical documents, we can learn more about the networks of artists, dealers, and patrons that formed the art world in the 19th Century.