Briefkaart aan Philip Zilcken before 1891

This is a postcard to Philip Zilcken, written by Frederik van Eeden in 1891. The correspondence offers us a glimpse into the cultural milieu of the late 19th century Netherlands, a time of significant social and artistic change. Van Eeden, a psychiatrist and writer, engaged with pressing questions about the individual's role in society. This postcard, although a modest object, reflects the ways in which personal communication was essential to the circulation of ideas. Consider the labour involved; each word penned by hand, each delivery made. As we reflect on this exchange, we might also consider the ways in which class and literacy intersect in the history of correspondence. This small object, marked by its time, reminds us of the tangible connections between individuals navigating a world on the cusp of modernity.