Brief aan Philip Zilcken Possibly 1903 - 1925

This is a letter from Grada Hermina Marius to Philip Zilcken, probably from 1903 if I’m reading it right, and made with ink on paper, I think. The script swoops and dives, like the hand is dancing. The words lean on each other, and some almost fade away. I can imagine Marius sitting at her desk, maybe with a cup of tea, the nib of her pen scratching softly as she thinks. I’ve been there, trying to get the words just right, feeling the weight of each stroke. It’s a conversation, you know? Between the hand, the ink, and the paper, each mark altering what comes next. There’s a lightness here, even in the formality. You can feel the artist's presence in every curve and flourish. It’s like a painter using thick impasto, each layer adding depth and texture to the story. Just think how many artists she knew, whose work she admired. And how many artists have been inspired by her since!