Brief aan Jean Possibly 1836

This is “Brief aan Jean,” a letter by Albert Pierre Roberti, penned in Brussels on December 6, 1836. The early 19th century was a time of social change and political upheaval in Europe. Consider Roberti's position as a bourgeois artist during the post-Napoleonic era. His identity as a man afforded him certain privileges, but how did his social class and artistic ambitions intersect with prevailing norms? This letter, addressed to a certain "Jean," provides insight into the artist’s intimate sphere. It reads: "My dear Jean, I await you tomorrow morning at my place, to show you a painting that I have just finished." Roberti invites Jean to witness the culmination of his creative efforts, emphasizing the performative aspect of unveiling a work of art. Consider this letter as an invitation to reflect on the interpersonal dynamics that shape artistic creation and reception, and how these dynamics are inevitably shaped by gender, class, and social status.