Brief aan jonkheer Hendrik Teding van Berkhout (1879-1969) Possibly 1901

Editor: Here we have a letter, “Brief aan jonkheer Hendrik Teding van Berkhout,” possibly from 1901, created by Fré Cohen, using ink on paper. It appears to be a page from a personal sketchbook or journal. The script is very elegant, but I struggle to read it fluently. I am curious, what historical context is most illuminating to your eye? Curator: That's a perceptive question! Fré Cohen was an important figure; studying her within the social and political context of early 20th-century Netherlands is very interesting. Look closely – it's a detailed invoice. What strikes me is how this simple document provides insight into the art market, patronage and economics of that time. Editor: An invoice, how interesting! Does this document reveal any implicit politics regarding artistic distribution in society? Curator: Exactly! Consider who Hendrik Teding van Berkhout was, the 'jonkheer,' and the content in Cohen's written prices, and you start to understand the socio-economic realities that shaped Cohen’s artistic output. Think of the implications about art being viewed more as commodities and about who had the access to acquire art, reinforcing their social status. Editor: I hadn't thought about that! So, beyond the aesthetic value, we can analyze the letter’s place in a wider structure of society. Curator: Precisely. The history surrounding Fré Cohen and the address labeled at the top reveals an interesting dimension of her background and social network as well. Looking into how galleries exhibited or neglected women artists back then helps, too. It provides an entry point into the social conditions impacting artistic production and distribution at the time. Editor: This is all so fascinating! I now look at this "letter" not just as a historical record, but as a snapshot of cultural power dynamics. Thanks!