Brief aan Philip Zilcken Possibly 1900 - 1908

This is a letter to Philip Zilcken, written in 1900 by Jan Hillebrand Wijsmuller. A page of laid paper, ruled with faint lines, it bears handwriting executed in iron gall ink, made from tannins and iron salts. Consider the materiality of this letter: the production of paper became increasingly mechanized during the industrial revolution, making it affordable and readily available. The easy availability of paper, combined with the rise of universal literacy, gave rise to a culture of correspondence. The particular shade and consistency of the ink would have been a familiar sight to anyone who regularly wrote with a fountain pen. The letter is evidence of a network of exchange, not only of information, but of gestures. In our digital age, it is easy to forget that letters like these were once the primary means of maintaining relationships over long distances. This material object offers us a glimpse into that world, reminding us of the labor and time involved in communication. The very existence of this letter blurs the lines between the practices of fine art and everyday life.