Notitieboek van Philip Zilcken 1867 - 1930

Here we see Philip Zilcken's notebook, an intimate object that offers a glimpse into the life and mind of a late 19th and early 20th-century artist. Zilcken, born in the Netherlands to parents of German origin, moved within a cosmopolitan, intellectual elite. His identity was shaped by multiple cultural influences, as well as the societal expectations of his class. Notebooks can be a very personal space for reflections, sketches, and observations. What we see on the cover of this book is a worn fabric, with writing on the bottom right corner and marks which hints at its history of use and the passage of time. What did Zilcken record inside? Were there sketches, poems, or perhaps reflections on the rapidly changing world around him? As Zilcken moved through life as an artist, critic, and writer, his notebook would bear witness to his evolving perspectives and experiences. Ultimately, this simple notebook connects us to the intimate, everyday life of a man living through a period of immense social and artistic change.