Brief aan Philip Zilcken Possibly 1898

This is a letter, penned in Amsterdam on the 12th of October, 1898, by Georgine Schwartze, to Philip Zilcken. The letter gives us a glimpse into the artistic circles of the Netherlands at the close of the 19th century. Schwartze, a successful portrait painter, known for her realistic style, corresponds here with Zilcken, an artist, critic, and editor. The letter regards “annotations” regarding the life of Professor Stracké, potentially for publication. What was the relationship between these figures? And what role did Zilcken play as an intermediary in the art world? We can consider how the image creates meaning through visual codes, cultural references, and historical associations. By researching the archives of institutions of Dutch art history, such as museums, galleries, and art schools, we might understand more about the social conditions that shaped artistic production in the Netherlands at this time.