Uitnodiging aan Henriette Wilhelmina van Baak en Philip Zilcken Possibly 1921 - 1924

Curator: What catches my eye immediately is the frayed edge of the paper—a deliberate textural choice for what appears to be a formal invitation. Editor: Indeed. The piece we're examining is titled "Invitation to Henriette Wilhelmina van Baak and Philip Zilcken." It is held in the Rijksmuseum and while its precise creation date is uncertain, scholars place it somewhere between 1921 and 1924. Its listed media are collage, print, textile, and paper featuring typography. Curator: That layering of media signals something beyond a mere functional object. It elevates a mundane item into a kind of artwork. Look at the textile elements combined with typography on rough-edged paper, blurring the lines between high-end printmaking and accessible ephemera. This speaks volumes about the democratization of art happening then. Editor: And the symbolic weight is interesting. Notice the formality of "Madame Raphaël Himelschein" and "Madame Jacques Slabotzky." They “receive” after the religious ceremony, signaling established social structures, wealth, and perhaps intermarriage. Then "On dansera" implies celebration, freedom and modernity. It sets up a dialogue between tradition and emerging societal shifts after World War One. Curator: I'm especially interested in the phrase "Salle de Boeck". The location itself contributes to the work. What was this hall used for? Its history undoubtedly connects to the people and rituals within the artwork and I wonder, how was the site involved in this invitation being a 'performance'. Editor: That location— Rue d'Aremberg, Anvers (Antwerp) speaks of cultural location too. Antwerp, with a unique mix of commerce, religion, and historical events. Curator: I see now the artist challenges our perceptions of utility and artistic intent with repurposed labor, creating an intentional commentary. Editor: And through an image intended for personal and private communication, cultural and psychological weight reveals continuity that resonates to modern understanding.