Brief aan Pieter Verloren van Themaat Possibly 1886

This is a letter, written in 1866 by Pieter Stortenbeker, a 19th-century Dutch artist, to Pieter Verloren van Themaat. As a document of personal correspondence, it offers a glimpse into the social networks of the art world at the time. Through its handwriting on graph paper, this letter reflects the cultural values and societal structures of the time. The formal handwriting speaks to the emphasis on education and social decorum, while its content provides hints of the artistic profession's reliance on personal relationships and patronage. One senses that the letter might be alluding to the inner circles of the art community. "Was zult Bevinde, dat es llne Peekening van Gabriel Oy is Men by my Rede, mouch, Strech nat id melligt daarover vante An Merizer, den kryhen om de zelve opterende che stuur dearon, maar de voorbaat de mede". What emotions and personal experiences are conveyed in this fragment of the letter? The letter invites us to contemplate the intricate interplay between personal expression, societal expectations, and the cultural narratives that shape our identities.