Brief aan H.C. Cankrien Possibly 1861 - 1863

This letter was written by Richard Burnier to H.C. Cankrien in 1861. It is a personal letter, a form of intimate communication that stands in contrast to the publicity we often associate with art. Yet this letter is in the collection of the Rijksmuseum: how did it get here, and what can it tell us about the social and cultural world of art in the Netherlands at this time? Letters such as this can give us a unique insight into the social networks that sustain artistic production. They can tell us about the relationships between artists and their patrons, about the circulation of ideas and images, and about the institutions that shape artistic taste. The art historian can trace these relationships through archival research, piecing together the stories behind the art we see in museums. By understanding these social and institutional contexts, we can better understand the public role of art and the politics of imagery.