Briefkaart aan Philip Zilcken before 1899

This briefkaart, or postcard, was sent to Philip Zilcken, likely in the early 20th century, from The Hague. It offers us a glimpse into the social networks of the time and the everyday life of individuals within the Dutch art world. The card itself, with its printed text and postage marks, speaks to the rise of mass communication and the increasing accessibility of personal correspondence in the Netherlands. The handwritten address connects us to a specific individual, Zilcken, whose role in the artistic community we can explore through archival research and biographical studies. Who was this person, and what was their relationship to the sender, Albert Plasschaert, also an artist? By examining the postal history and the cultural context of the time, including the role of artists and art institutions in shaping public taste, we can better understand the social fabric in which this briefkaart circulated. This everyday object becomes a valuable source for understanding the cultural and institutional history of the Dutch art world.