Brief aan mevrouw Immerzeel Possibly 1845 - 1848

Editor: Here we have "Brief aan mevrouw Immerzeel", or "Letter to Mrs. Immerzeel" by Petrus Kiers, likely made between 1845 and 1848. It’s a drawing in ink on paper, held here at the Rijksmuseum. My first impression is one of formality and distance. I can’t read Dutch, but the very script and layout suggest an official tone. What do you see in this piece? Curator: For me, this work speaks volumes about the societal conventions of communication in the mid-19th century. The very act of composing such a letter, the elegant script, even the materials used—pen and ink on paper—all reflect a certain level of education, social standing, and access. How might this exchange reflect the gender dynamics of the time? Editor: I suppose the letter being addressed to a woman, Mrs. Immerzeel, could indicate her social importance, or perhaps the artist thought that addressing his letter to her would increase his chance of having a request met. It feels strategic. Curator: Exactly. And considering Romanticism was at its peak, might there be an expectation of elevated emotion and sophisticated language, reflecting how people wanted to portray themselves in public, versus how they spoke with close friends? Editor: That’s a great point. It's like today's social media, but rendered in ink! It prompts me to wonder about what personal motivations, expectations and perhaps anxieties underpinned these types of social rituals, in the lives of the artists, writers, and readers involved in the artistic world. Curator: Precisely! We often forget that what survives in museums like this letter offers us a curated glimpse of the past, shaped as much by social forces as artistic intention. This seemingly simple letter unlocks insights into power, gender, and communication within artistic and social circles. Editor: I will certainly think of historical artworks in a completely different way moving forward.