Brief aan Philip Zilcken Possibly 1895

This is a letter by Willem Witsen to Philip Zilcken, written in Ede on the 1st of April, 1895. Witsen was part of a group of Dutch impressionist painters known as the Amsterdam Impressionists, and his personal correspondence provides a glimpse into the art world of the late 19th century. Letters such as these were more than mere communication; they were a vital part of the artistic and social fabric of the time. Witsen’s words evoke the intimacy and the intellectual exchange that characterized artistic communities. These exchanges were predominantly male, and access to them would have been determined by gender and class. Consider the emotional labor involved in maintaining these relationships, the expectations of reciprocity, and the role such correspondence played in shaping artistic reputations and movements. How might these dynamics affect who gets to participate in the art world and whose voices are heard?