Briefkaart aan Philip Zilcken before 1893

This is the back of a postcard addressed to Philip Zilcken, and it was made by the Belgian artist Albert Baertsoen. The stamps are postmarked in 1893, placing it at a time of rapid industrialization and social change across Europe. Postcards like this were a novel form of communication. The postal system itself was undergoing standardization, reflecting an increasingly interconnected society. Consider the relationship between the sender and receiver. Zilcken was himself an artist and critic; perhaps this postcard represents a dialogue within the artistic community? The handwriting, the choice of stamps, and the message—all would have carried meaning for the recipient. As an art historian, I'm interested in how such seemingly mundane objects can illuminate the social networks and cultural values of their time. Archival research into Zilcken's papers and Baertsoen’s biography could reveal the story behind this simple piece of mail, enriching our understanding of art’s place in society.