Brief aan Philip Zilcken before 1925

Editor: So, this is Lya Berger’s “Brief aan Philip Zilcken,” probably made before 1925, and it’s ink on paper. It’s essentially a used envelope, but seeing the postal marks, the stamps, and the handwriting, it makes me wonder about the physical journey this letter took. What aspects of this piece stand out to you? Curator: For me, it's the envelope itself, a mundane object transformed by its purpose and journey. Ink, stamps, postal markings - they are all materials bearing traces of production, distribution, and consumption. Consider the labour involved: from the papermaking process and ink production to the postal workers handling it, and finally, the hands of both Berger and Zilcken. Editor: That's an interesting perspective, considering the broader socio-economic systems at play. But does focusing on the materials risk overshadowing the intended message of the letter itself? Curator: Perhaps, but I'd argue that the materiality *is* the message. It reveals the physical reality of communication at that time. We have handwriting here – a manual, artisanal process now largely replaced by digital means. It shows a specific moment in technological development, with all of its materials, systems and class assumptions. It questions our assumptions about what "art" can be and where it is found. Editor: That's a good point. Thinking about it as a product of labour and systems rather than solely an artwork definitely shifts my perspective. It makes you think about all the unseen people involved in this simple act of sending mail. Curator: Exactly! And reflecting on how seemingly simple artifacts carry rich information about material conditions helps reveal hidden social, technological, and economic practices from the past.