How far back can we find artist statements?

—The art world—

I often wonder, when did we first start seeing all this emphasis on artist statements?

Tonight I came across a letter written from Camille Pissarro to Paul Durand-Ruel. It is dated November 6, 1886 and in it Pissarro writes:

My Dear M. Durand-Ruel, I am sending you the enclosed account of myself and my new artistic doctrines that you requested.

In the letter, Pissarro includes a short artist statement—his artistic doctrines—which he titles Theory. The statement explains his influences, his process, and his philosophy, each in one of three short paragraphs of one to two sentences. It is a model artist statement, even if he didn't call it that.

He follows the statement with a short biography, which he refers to as such. "Here is my biography," he writes. Notably, he focuses on his literal history—where he was born, and where he has worked and traveled prior to his involvement with the Impressionist movement. He doesn't list accomplishments and honors.

So here we have a modern example of the artist statement and artist biography requested by a dealer dating to the late 19th century.