Briefkaart aan Philip Zilcken before 1895

This is a postcard to Philip Zilcken, sent by Jules Destrée in 1893. The postal markings place its origin in Belgium and its destination in the Netherlands. What can this fragment tell us about the social world of art at the end of the nineteenth century? We see the importance of personal networks for the circulation of ideas and images. The postcard itself, a relatively new technology, facilitated quick and cheap communication. Jules Destrée was a politician and writer, while Philip Zilcken was a Dutch artist, critic, and museum curator. Such figures played a key role in shaping the art world through their institutional power. Their correspondence and relationships help to write the history of art and taste. To further explore this, we might consult archives of personal papers or institutional records. The meaning of art is always contingent on its historical context.