Brief aan Philip Zilcken Possibly 1900 - 1919

This letter to Philip Zilcken was penned by Baronne Madeleine Deslandes, likely in the late 19th or early 20th century, using ink on paper. The materials themselves – processed pulp and a manufactured pigment – speak to the rise of industrial production, yet the handwritten script situates the letter within a world of personal communication, before mass digital correspondence became ubiquitous. The act of handwriting itself is crucial here. The pressure applied to the nib, the rhythm of the strokes, the flourishes and corrections – all these physical traces offer an intimate connection to the author’s thoughts and emotions. The letter isn’t just a message, it’s a performance of civility, a carefully crafted object intended to convey respect and consideration. It reminds us that even the most mundane materials, when imbued with human intention and skill, can carry significant cultural weight. It blurs the line between the functional and the expressive, inviting us to appreciate the artistry inherent in everyday life.