Brief aan Jan Veth Possibly 1896 - 1897

This is a letter written in 1896 by Jozef Israëls, a prominent figure in the Hague School of painting, to Jan Veth, an artist, critic, and art historian. Its presence in the Rijksmuseum signifies the institutional recognition of artists' correspondence as culturally significant artifacts. The letter provides a window into the late 19th-century Dutch art world. Written in Dutch, it discusses portraits, exhibitions at the Hall, and contributions to the art scene. We can learn about the networks of artists, critics, and institutions that shaped artistic production and reception in the Netherlands. It hints at the financial and logistical considerations involved in organizing exhibitions. To understand the context of this letter fully, one could consult archives of artists' correspondence, exhibition catalogs, and publications on the Hague School. By examining such resources, the historian can illuminate the social and institutional context that gave meaning to Israëls' artistic practice.