Brief aan Philip Zilcken Possibly 1909

This is an envelope addressed by the Italian art critic Vittorio Pica to the Dutch painter Philip Zilcken, likely dating to the late 19th or early 20th century. The act of correspondence itself offers a glimpse into the art world's social networks and the circulation of ideas across national borders. We see Italian and French used to communicate between artists from Italy and the Netherlands. The postal markings and the Italian stamp, featuring King Victor Emmanuel III, also locate it within a specific time and political context. What can we learn from an everyday object like this? The historian might examine the content of the letter itself, if available, to understand the artistic debates of the period. Postal history, including stamps and postmarks, would help to fix its exact date and trace its journey. We come to see how art relies on social and institutional structures for its very existence.