Brief aan Philip Zilcken Possibly 1907 - 1927

This is an image of a letter sent by Vittorio Pica to Philip Zilcken, likely in 1901. From Paris to The Hague in the Netherlands, this document allows us to see the social networks of artists and critics at the turn of the century. Pica was an Italian art critic who was instrumental in introducing Italian audiences to Impressionism and Art Nouveau. Zilcken was a Dutch painter, etcher, and art critic. The letter itself becomes a symbol of their shared interest in promoting modern art. Letters like this one provide valuable information about the social conditions that shape artistic production. By researching the correspondence of artists and critics, historians can gain insight into the institutions and social networks that supported modern art. We are aided by the survival of postal markings that document its journey across Europe and between cultural figures. Art is contingent on its social and institutional context, and research resources like letters help us understand it better.