Brief aan de commissie van de tentoonstelling van tekeningen in Genootschap Kunstliefde Possibly 1866

This is a letter, written in Amsterdam on May 31, 1866, by Mari ten Kate to the committee of the drawing exhibition in Genootschap Kunstliefde in Utrecht. The Genootschap Kunstliefde was a Dutch artist society with a long history of supporting and showcasing art. As an artist in the 19th century, Mari ten Kate would have been navigating a complex social landscape, with artistic success often intertwined with class, gender, and the prevailing artistic conventions of the time. In the letter, ten Kate informs the committee that he has sent three drawings for the upcoming exhibition, providing descriptions and prices for each piece. The act of writing this letter speaks to the negotiations artists had to undertake to have their work seen and valued. Kate balances a formal tone with an underlying need to advocate for his art, a dance that reflects the artist's position in society, seeking recognition within established structures. Consider the emotional labor involved in such communications, the need to present oneself professionally while hoping for acceptance and financial reward. The letter is a small but resonant artifact of an artist's life, revealing the intersection of art, commerce, and personal ambition in the 19th-century art world.