Brief aan Johan Philip van der Kellen Possibly 1893

This is a letter written on paper by Philip Zilcken in 1895. The first thing you notice is the handwriting itself, which is so elegant and spidery. Its very legibility speaks to a certain kind of material process, and to the position of the author. Consider the labor involved in the production of handwriting: the skilled manipulation of a pen, and the control of the hand to form each letter. In a pre-digital age, this level of literacy was a marker of status and education, suggesting a professional class that could afford the luxury of time and resources for such pursuits. The paper itself, likely handmade, signifies a culture where even everyday correspondence was imbued with a sense of craftsmanship. Looking closely at the material elements of this letter opens a window onto the social and cultural values of the late 19th century, where even a simple note carried the weight of tradition, skill, and social standing.