Brief aan Philip Zilcken Possibly 1890

This is a letter from Carel Nicolaas Storm van 's-Gravesande to Philip Zilcken, written in 190 from Brussels on October 4th, 90. As a document of personal correspondence, it offers a glimpse into the social and professional networks of artists during that period. Storm van 's-Gravesande, a Dutch painter, etcher and lithographer, was actively involved in the art scene of his time. Zilcken was a well-known painter, etcher, art critic, and writer. This letter, now preserved in the collection of the Rijksmuseum, provides valuable insights into their relationship and perhaps the artistic discussions they engaged in. It also speaks to the institutional role of museums and archives in preserving these social histories. Historians can use such letters, along with other primary sources like exhibition catalogs and artists' biographies, to reconstruct the complex web of relationships that shaped artistic production and reception. By studying these networks, we gain a deeper understanding of the social conditions that influenced the art of the late 19th century.