Brief aan Philip Zilcken before 1889

This letter to Philip Zilcken was penned by Isaac Israels in Paris. It reveals the social dynamics of the art world at the time. Israels, a Dutch Jewish artist, writes from the Grand Hotel, a space that reflects the intersection of class and cultural exchange. He mentions being honored by a group of French artists upon his arrival, suggesting a welcoming, yet potentially fraught, integration into the Parisian art scene. Israels touches on themes of acceptance and recognition when he writes that he initially planned to leave the country because he had not achieved anything, but is ‘not dissatisfied after all’. The letter hints at the complex negotiation of identity and belonging that many artists faced. Israels' emotional state seems delicately balanced between ambition and the desire for recognition within a specific cultural context. This letter serves as a reminder of the personal and emotional dimensions of artistic creation.