Brief aan Philip Zilcken en Henriette Wilhelmina van Baak Possibly 1919

Curator: This “Brief aan Philip Zilcken en Henriette Wilhelmina van Baak,” potentially from 1919, offers such insight. Letters like this remind us that art isn't solely about polished finished products, but deeply embedded in the messy realities of communication, labour and production. Editor: That’s true. It's amazing to see such personal handwriting and to imagine someone’s thoughts flowing directly onto the paper like that. Looking at this, what do you find most striking from a Materialist perspective? Curator: The most fascinating aspect for me lies in its inherent materiality: the paper, the ink, and the very act of writing itself. This wasn’t created using contemporary tools – it stems from penmanship and is physically laborious. We tend to overlook the work involved. What kind of physical condition was the artist in while creating it? Were they rushed? Taking their time? Editor: So, it is almost like each letter represents a tiny little task to get a single point across. And each stroke is material labor. Curator: Precisely. It encourages us to see how creating art is also "working." Also, imagine the social context surrounding the creation and consumption of this letter. In 1919, such a personal artifact connected the maker to the consumer of information intimately and immediately. Editor: So by exploring these letters, we’re investigating not just the visual art but also the materials and social circumstances around the creation of art. I never considered how handwriting connects so deeply to labour. Curator: Exactly. Seeing it this way helps us to really value it for more than just surface aesthetics, and consider what was used in creating this letter, like paper. This brings into consideration manufacturing and resource availability. Editor: It has shifted how I think about this piece entirely.