Brief aan Pieter Verloren van Themaat Possibly 1861

This is a letter, "Brief aan Pieter Verloren van Themaat," written by Johannes Pieter van Wisselingh in 1861. Van Wisselingh, active in the mid-19th century, lived in a time of increasing industrialization and social change in the Netherlands. This letter gives us an intimate glimpse into the art market of the time, listing several landscape paintings with their prices. The act of pricing and selling art reflects the commercialization of artistic expression, where the value of art is determined not only by its aesthetic qualities but also by market forces. What does it mean to assign a monetary value to a landscape, to a scene? Landscape painting often reflects cultural values and perceptions of nature. This letter invites us to think about how these landscapes, and the act of their sale, intersect with broader issues of commerce, value, and cultural identity. It allows us to consider the emotional weight and implications of the art world at the time.