Brief aan Philip Zilcken Possibly 1898

Curator: Ah, Émile Durand-Gréville’s “Brief aan Philip Zilcken,” likely from 1898. It’s fascinating how artists communicated then – such intimacy in the written word. I almost feel like I'm intruding. Editor: Yes, it’s an ink drawing on paper, essentially a handwritten letter. It’s very intimate as you say… kind of unassuming. It makes me wonder – what am I looking at beyond a personal note? What can you tell from it? Curator: Letters were—and remain—portals, right? Especially among artists and intellectuals of that era. They are how they exchanged ideas! Durand-Gréville might be commenting on Zilcken’s work, his approach. The linework here feels hurried, intense… notice how the words almost crowd each other. What does that intensity tell you? Editor: It looks a bit stream-of-consciousness maybe? He had so much to say that it felt like he was running out of space? Curator: Possibly. And there are corrections and additions. See that almost feverish energy in how he crosses out and inserts new words? It tells a story of a mind in constant motion, a spirit wrestling with ideas, crafting the perfect sentiment to offer. Letters back then really did put you on the spot! The hand becomes the head, its thoughts given shape by an active arm and hand. And then there is a recipient for it all to affect. Quite amazing really. Editor: I never thought a letter could be so telling about an artist’s mind. It really opens up a whole new way of looking at these kinds of artwork! Curator: Exactly! Each stroke, each flourish… it’s a little window into his creative process. Makes you wish you knew what Zilcken had to say in response!