Briefkaart aan Philip Zilcken Possibly 1885

This undated handwritten postcard to Philip Zilcken was created by Carel Nicolaas Storm van 's-Gravesande. Here we see the intersection of personal relationships and professional networks within the art world of the late 19th and early 20th centuries. The note itself seems innocuous, a simple introduction for someone named Keppel. However, it also gestures towards a system of patronage and influence that shaped artistic careers. What did it mean to have access to these networks, and who was excluded? Whose stories go unwritten when access is limited? Consider also the intimacy of handwriting, a direct trace of the artist’s hand. It connects us to a specific moment in time, a personal correspondence amidst broader historical forces. It’s a reminder that art is always made by individuals, embedded in their own social and emotional worlds.