Brief aan Philip Zilcken Possibly 1923

This is a letter to Philip Zilcken, written by Richard Bisschop in 1923. It’s a simple piece of paper, likely made from pulped wood, its surface sized to accept ink. Consider the embodied labor involved in its making: from the harvesting of raw materials, through industrial processing, to its eventual use as a surface for handwritten communication. The pale gray ink, applied with a nib pen, carries its own significance. Writing in ink, each word carefully chosen and inscribed, lends a formality and permanence absent in our digital age. Think about the gesture of Bisschop's hand, carefully forming each letter. This painstaking process reflects a commitment to craft, a personal touch that transcends the purely functional. It's a connection between maker, material, and recipient, offering a glimpse into a specific time, place, and relationship. It underscores the value of human connection in a pre-digital world. This letter invites us to consider the wider social implications of labor, politics, and consumption inherent in its production.