Briefkaart aan Philip Zilcken 1875 - 1930

This is a postcard by Albert Verwey, probably made with pen and ink. I love the gestural marks. Think about the artist, pen in hand, writing these words. I imagine the thoughts flowing directly from the brain, through the arm, and onto the card. Did you know that the word "manuscript" means "written by hand?" Writing is like drawing. The pressure, the speed, the pauses–they all add up to the touch of the artist. In this piece, the lines vary in weight. You can see moments where the pen dug into the surface and others where it barely grazed it. In my own practice, I try to get this kind of directness. I think all artists are trying to find that unfiltered space. I imagine Verwey in conversation with other artists, exchanging ideas, inspiring one another's creativity across time. This is how the greatest art comes into being.