Brief aan Philip Zilcken Possibly 1869

Curator: Here we have Cornelia van der Hart’s “Brief aan Philip Zilcken,” likely created around 1869. The piece is a pen and ink drawing, essentially an artistic letter. Editor: It feels intimate, doesn’t it? Like eavesdropping on a private moment. The handwriting is elegant, but there’s a certain… intensity to it. As though the writer’s thoughts were rushing onto the page. It has the solemn air of old writing, it could use the smell of old books, if you catch my drift! Curator: Absolutely. Considering Van der Hart's position within the Hague School and her connection to literary figures like Zilcken, this letter likely offers insight into the artistic and intellectual climate of the time. We can understand it as a document revealing the networks of artists and writers influencing each other, offering reciprocal support. The fact that she mentions illustrations might connect this directly to book illustration practices of the time and women’s participation to this craft. Editor: It’s interesting how a simple letter can become a portal into a whole world! And there's so much personality embedded in handwriting. You sense her presence; almost as if you have actually met her and remember her quirks. It is pretty strong, her "I" if I can call it like that. Curator: Yes, exactly. You are noting an expression of identity; and how the artist expressed themselves despite societal and historical constraints of women during this era. This shows up subtly and strongly through handwriting conventions. We can dig into archives for the specific kind of education young girls in The Hague were receiving at the time to appreciate it further. Editor: So, beyond the formal aspects, what stays with me is how fragile, immediate and meaningful such exchange was in earlier centuries. Something to appreciate amidst our fleeting and ephemeral online communications. Curator: A crucial point, reminding us to slow down and reconsider the values we attach to various forms of historical, artistic and current expressions. Editor: I know, right? It leaves me wondering what a response would have felt and looked like. If our technology disappears and some aliens dig our past from scratch they will wonder about email formats for sure.