Brief aan anoniem Possibly 1886

This is ‘Brief aan anoniem’, or ‘Letter to Anonymous’, penned in The Hague on February 17, 1886, by Frederik Hendrik Weissenbruch. Weissenbruch was a Dutch painter and printmaker associated with the Hague School, a group of artists who sought to capture the atmosphere and light of the Dutch landscape. This letter provides an intimate glimpse into the art world of the late 19th century. Weissenbruch had been asked to describe prints for a sale catalog. His writing reveals not only his expertise but also his frustrations. He mentions difficulties in identifying the engravers and seeks assistance with his work. The letter references portraits and prints by B. Vaillant, touching on the challenge of attributing authorship in the art world. Weissenbruch reflects on the labor and artistry embedded in printmaking. The emotional undercurrent of the letter, its mix of expertise, frustration, and the search for collaboration, highlights the personal investment artists have in their work, and it captures a sense of the artist's identity as deeply intertwined with his practice.