Brief aan Philip Zilcken before 1891

This letter was written by Joris-Karl Huysmans to Philip Zilcken. It’s comprised simply of ink on paper, but consider all that seemingly simple description implies. Huysmans was an accomplished writer and critic. He’s writing to Zilcken regarding lithographs, which are themselves produced through a chemical printing process, not unlike photography. This was a modern, reproducible medium. It was an era in which artists were deeply engaged with the question of how art could remain relevant in an age of mass production. The letter’s flowing script speaks to the ease and speed of handwriting, a technology of inscription available to anyone who has learned the skill. So while the note itself is not exactly an artwork, it’s a direct trace of Huysmans’s mind and hand, and also a vector of connection between creative people operating in a rapidly changing world. Ultimately, this humble letter reminds us that art is not only about grand statements, but also about the everyday exchanges that sustain a creative community.