Gedicht uit archief Philip Zilcken Possibly 1913 - 1930

Albert Verwey penned this poem, “Gedicht uit archief Philip Zilcken,” with ink on paper. It feels like a quick sketch, not labored over but made through the act of writing. The lines are dark and bold, and the script is legible without being careful or precise. You know, the physical quality of the ink is pretty striking; it’s almost sculptural on the page, catching the light in a way that feels almost like paint. When I look at the phrase "Ontbloot van lichaam, sliekt," I'm struck by how the letters dance and weave together, like the bare body he’s describing, vulnerable yet resilient. It reminds me of Cy Twombly's calligraphic paintings, where the act of writing becomes a kind of raw, emotional expression. It’s not about perfect legibility, but more about the rhythm and texture of language itself. As with much great art, it seems less about knowing and more about feeling.