Brief aan Philip Zilcken Possibly 1905

This letter to Philip Zilcken, composed by Maurits van der Valk, is like a little painting. The way the ink bleeds into the page, creating these soft purple shadows, is almost watercolor-like. It’s a reminder that artmaking isn't just about the finished product; it's about the process, the materials, the way the hand moves. Look at the rhythm of the handwriting. The loops and swirls create a texture, like the surface of a canvas. Some areas are dense and dark, others light and airy. Notice how the ink pools in certain spots, creating accidental marks. These imperfections are what give the letter its character, its soul. It's as if the act of writing itself becomes a form of drawing, a way of thinking through making. This piece reminds me of Cy Twombly’s work, where writing and mark-making blur together, creating these beautiful, chaotic compositions. It's a testament to the idea that art is an ongoing conversation, an exchange of ideas across time. It embraces ambiguity, leaving room for multiple interpretations.