Brief aan Philip Zilcken 1854 - 1926

Here we have a letter written by Mary Cassatt to Philip Zilcken. Cassatt, an American expatriate, was part of the Impressionist movement in France. Her unique position as a woman artist in the late 19th and early 20th centuries shaped her work, challenging societal expectations. Cassatt never explicitly addressed the politics of gender within her work, but she chose domestic scenes which provided a critical lens through which she engaged with contemporary debates about women's roles. The intimate scale and personal nature of this letter offers insight into the artist’s social world, while also demonstrating the practical aspects of managing an artistic career. It acts as a reminder of the labor and communication required to navigate the art world.