Brief aan de heer Leopold 1867 - 1930

This is a letter to Mr. Leopold by Philip Zilcken, written on paper with ink. You see the labor of thought evident in the handwriting, the cross-outs, the density of the text itself. Think about the role of correspondence at this time. Before email, every letter required the writer's direct touch, and the postal worker's as well. This letter is not just a form of communication, it's a record of a social relationship, a material trace of a conversation. It demonstrates the effort of maintaining a connection in a pre-digital age. Each stroke of the pen is a deliberate act, a small contribution to a larger exchange. Considering it now, we can appreciate the value of these artifacts from a time when communication was more tangible, a link between people in a world of growing industrialization. It emphasizes the importance of the personal touch, challenging the idea that progress always means efficiency.