Briefkaart aan Philip Zilcken Possibly 1907 - 1916

Vittorio Pica sent this illustrated postcard to Philip Zilcken. It features the Hotel de l’Esperance in Brussels. Pica, an Italian art critic, and Zilcken, a Dutch painter, lived in a Europe on the brink of immense social and political change. The Belle Époque, as this era was known, was a time of optimism fueled by technological and industrial advancements. But it was also a period marked by stark class divisions, colonial expansion, and rising nationalist tensions. The grand hotel, a symbol of luxury and modernity, catered to the elite. Note the advertisement for wedding banquets and its modern elevator. The handwritten message transforms this commercial card into an intimate exchange between two figures in the art world. Pica and Zilcken navigated their identities as artists and intellectuals within this complex society. Their correspondence offers a glimpse into a world where art, culture, and personal relationships were deeply intertwined with the broader currents of history. It reminds us of the emotional connections that transcend time.