Briefkaart aan Philip Zilcken Possibly 1902 - 1909

This is a briefkaart, or postcard, sent by Vittorio Pica to Philip Zilcken, likely created in the late 1800s during a time of increased international exchange. Pica, an influential Italian art critic and writer, corresponded with various artists, intellectuals and cultural figures of his time. This card, addressed to Zilcken with a message for "Hélène - Villa" and postmarked from Brussels, offers a fleeting glimpse into the personal relationships that underpinned the art world of the time. The card bears the marks of its journey, the postal stamps creating a superimposition on its surface. The handwriting and layered inscriptions invite us to consider the intimacy of handwritten communication versus the relative anonymity of contemporary digital media. The card acts as a material trace of Pica's existence and offers a tactile connection to the past. It speaks of the importance of communication and connection in the art world, and in our broader social fabric.