Briefkaart aan Philip Zilcken Possibly 1912

This envelope, Briefkaart aan Philip Zilcken, is from the hand of Octave Maus. Envelopes, in their way, are abstract paintings. Just think about it—they are the unsung heroes of our daily lives, silently journeying from one place to another, carrying secrets and messages. I can see the artist marking and scrawling across the paper. I imagine Maus thinking about his friend Philip Zilcken as he is writing. You know, the way you think about someone when you write to them, the feel of the pen, the slant of your hand on the paper... The stamps and seals create this accidental kind of collage. Each mark bears witness to a moment in time, capturing a little piece of history. It makes me wonder, what was the story behind this particular letter? What thoughts and emotions were exchanged between Maus and Zilcken? These are the human connections that bind us together, a reminder that even in the digital age, the simple act of writing a letter can be a profound and meaningful gesture. Like artists today, Maus used whatever was at hand.