Brief aan Philip Zilcken Possibly 1895 - 1897

This letter was penned by William Macbeth in New York, July 31st, 1895. It’s a simple thing: ink applied to paper, but even this mundane object can speak volumes about the world of art, commerce, and connection in its time. The paper itself, likely machine-made, points to the rise of industrial production, as does the mass availability of ink. But the handwritten script reminds us of the premium still placed on personal touch, a human element that resists full mechanization. Macbeth was writing to Philip Zilcken, presumably to negotiate the terms of some business arrangement, perhaps an art deal. Consider the labor involved, both in the manufacture of the materials and in the careful articulation of the message. And finally, remember the social context in which this correspondence took place - the art world was rapidly globalizing, with transatlantic exchanges becoming increasingly common. This letter allows us to appreciate how interconnected even seemingly disparate materials and processes can be.