Brief aan Jeanne Henriette Hijmans Possibly 1898

This is a letter written by Jozef Israëls, sometime in the late 19th or early 20th century. Addressed to Jeanne Henriette Hijmans, the letter gives us an intimate insight into the social circles of artists and their associates in the Netherlands. Israëls, a prominent figure in the Hague School, often depicted the lives of fishermen and rural laborers. But here we see a different side of his world, one of musicales in villas, and personal correspondence. What was the nature of the relationship between Israëls and Hijmans? Was she a patron, a fellow artist, or a friend? The letter mentions musical gatherings, hinting at the cultural activities and social networks that sustained artistic production. To understand this letter fully, one could delve into the archives of artists' correspondence, biographical details of the people involved, and studies of the cultural life of the Hague School. By exploring these sources, we can uncover the social fabric that supported and shaped the art of the time.