Brief aan Philip Zilcken Possibly 1881 - 1889

Curator: Here we have Isaac Israels' "Brief aan Philip Zilcken," a letter created sometime between 1881 and 1889, now residing here at the Rijksmuseum. It's ink on paper. What do you think? Editor: Well, initially, I see a real intimacy here. It feels like a glimpse into a private moment, maybe even a secret. The handwriting itself is so delicate. Curator: Indeed, letters, even ones as casual as this, were crucial for artists during this period, weren't they? Communication networks, artistic dialogue… all flowed through these missives. We see Israels reaching out to fellow artist Philip Zilcken. Editor: You know, the imperfection of the script, the almost frantic pace it suggests, it highlights that human connection for me. These were their "texts" – casual exchanges, arrangements. The slight imperfections really resonate with me. You can feel his hand moving across the page! Curator: I agree entirely. It also reminds us that these artists existed within a world of social expectations and institutional constraints. The art world was just beginning to become commodified and it's worth considering who had access to these exchanges and whose voices are amplified. Editor: Absolutely! Thinking about art back then… It's always filtered through gallery spaces or biographies, things like that. This letter throws light back on this everyday quality. Just a man writing to another, discussing the possibilities for meeting in Brussels…I mean, it is fantastic to see an original. Curator: It definitely creates a sense of closeness, doesn’t it? Considering his body of work and the milieu from which he emerged. And, by opening a window into artists’ more personal moments, it seems the “Brief aan Philip Zilcken” allows us a peek behind the canvas. Editor: A delightful little memento and quite inspiring. I suddenly have the desire to put pen to paper!