Prentbriefkaart aan Philip Zilcken Possibly 1927

This is a postcard to Philip Zilcken, handwritten in French by Ferdinand-Sigismund Bac, dated November 10, 1924. It offers a glimpse into the social networks of artists and intellectuals in the early 20th century. Bac thanks Zilcken for taking the trouble to find something mysterious related to Ver Huck, mentioning a Prince of Orange connection in 1852 and alluding to a diplomat. He asks Zilcken to bring any brave Dutchmen interested in his work and states his intention to be in Menton, France, asking what day Zilcken will arrive. The informal nature of this correspondence reveals the importance of personal connections and patronage in the art world, especially in a time before the internet. Historians can trace the careers of figures such as Bac through their correspondence. Looking at these sources, the social and institutional contexts that enabled their creative output become clearer.