Ontvangstbewijs voor Johann Heinrich Maria Hubert Rennefeld Possibly 1873

This is a receipt made in Amsterdam in 1873, by Frans Buffa en Zonen. It is an everyday material, paper, with meticulously handwritten calligraphy done in ink. Although seemingly mundane, this receipt offers a glimpse into the art market and the movement of artworks in the 19th century. The elegant script and decorative border hints at the value placed on record-keeping within the art world. It speaks to the labor involved in managing the logistics of art transactions. We see, even in this small artifact, the infrastructure that supports artistic exchange. The document acknowledges receipt of payment for shipping cases containing paintings, specifically for paintings by Mrs. Alma Tadema, which gives this receipt social significance. It implies a network of artists, dealers, and collectors, all contributing to the circulation and consumption of art. It reminds us that art, even when seemingly transcendent, is embedded in economic and social systems. The art world runs on paperwork.