Overlijdensbericht aan Philip Zilcken Possibly 1910 - 1930

Curator: So, what do you make of this announcement, this “Overlijdensbericht aan Philip Zilcken?” It appears to be a print on paper, likely with ink, showcasing lovely calligraphy. Editor: Yes, it feels… intimate, almost melancholic. I’m struck by how formalized it is, yet it conveys such a personal loss. How do you interpret this piece beyond its obvious function as a death announcement? Curator: I see this piece not just as a memento mori but as a window into early 20th-century social structures and mourning rituals. Notice the emphasis on familial relations – "femme, mère, parente et amie." What does this prioritization of women's roles within the family suggest to you about gender roles in that era? Editor: Well, it emphasizes the woman's roles as domestic and familial. It makes me wonder about her life outside those roles; were they considered at all, or only these most closely-held social positions? Curator: Precisely. The announcement serves as a site of cultural inscription. Consider also that the incineration takes place “dans la plus stricte intimité.” Who is included, and who is excluded from that intimacy, and what does that say about social boundaries, and the politics of grief at the time? Editor: That makes me think about the performance of mourning, and how controlled and exclusionary it could be, or still is today, potentially, if we consider some modern approaches to loss. Curator: Exactly! How is the message impacted by being addressed to Philip Zilcken specifically? Are there possible interpersonal relationships beyond this note? This card asks us to consider who is centered and decentered by its creation. Editor: I hadn’t even thought about it that way before. I’m glad to view the announcement within the social structure of the time! Curator: Yes. Seeing this artwork as a fragment of larger histories certainly reveals volumes beyond the literal text.