Brief aan Elsie Maud Cownie Possibly 1905

This letter to Elsie Maud Cownie was written in pen and ink by the Dutch artist Philip Zilcken, likely in the 1880s. It invites us to consider the social world of the artist. While this is an informal correspondence, it's an example of the social networks in which artists like Zilcken operated. It is a record of the artist’s interaction with a member of his social circle. Note that Zilcken refers to having "no pupils at all on Tuesday’s," indicating that he likely supplemented his income by teaching. The letter tells us about his professional life and perhaps the gender dynamics of the late 19th century art world, where women artists were often excluded from the formal institutions of art. Personal documents like this are invaluable for art historians. They help us reconstruct the daily lives and social contexts that shaped artistic production.