Brief aan G.M.C. Hooft, secretaris van de commissie van de Tentoonstelling van Levende Meesters in Den Haag

This letter was written in 1863 by Antonie Waldorp to G.M.C. Hooft, secretary of the Exhibition of Living Masters in The Hague. It is made of paper, likely handmade, and written on with dark ink. Waldorp mentions a number of paintings he intends to submit to the exhibition. From a still life with ships, to city and beach views, ending with watermills, we get a sense of the artist’s favorite subjects. The labor involved in the production process – from papermaking to calligraphy – is immediately apparent, reflecting the pre-industrial pace of artistic life in the 19th century. These materials and methods were typical of the time and place. This humble letter invites us to consider the broader context of artmaking, challenging the idea that art exists solely within the frame of a finished painting. Instead, it reminds us of the networks of communication and exchange that underpin artistic production.