Brief aan Philip Zilcken Possibly 1924

This undated letter to Philip Zilcken was written by Rose Imel, sometime after 1901, the year of her birth. Letters like this one are revealing social documents. In this instance, we are able to gain a sense of Imel’s life, her social networks, and her intellectual interests. Letters can sometimes paint a picture of daily life in a particular place and time, illuminating connections between individuals, communities and institutions. This letter is written in French, and it is full of warm sentiments, which suggests that the writer and recipient had a close relationship. We might ask whether the letter, with its discussion of personal matters, was intended as a private communication or whether it had a more public dimension as a form of social performance? To understand the letter more fully, a historian might seek out other writings by or about Rose Imel and Philip Zilcken. This could include diaries, newspaper articles, or institutional records. Contextualizing the letter in this way allows us to reflect on the meaning of art as something contingent on social circumstances.