Brief aan Anthonius Wilhelm Cornelis Berns Possibly 1889

This letter to Anthonius Wilhelm Cornelis Berns was produced by the Rijksakademie van Beeldende Kunsten in Amsterdam on December 25th, 1889. Written in elegant, looping cursive, the note appears to be a record of prices for plaster casts of sculptures, potentially for an upcoming exhibition. The very act of handwriting connects us to the laborious administrative processes that underpinned the 19th-century art world. Before typewriters became widespread, the physical effort of writing letters like these was considerable. The penmanship itself becomes a form of craft. We can also consider the social context: plaster casts were a popular and relatively inexpensive way to disseminate sculpture. This letter shows how art academies balanced artistic aspirations with the practicalities of commerce and promotion, offering insights into the networks of exchange that supported artistic production. It reminds us that even seemingly mundane documents can offer valuable insight into the business of art.