Brief aan Philip Zilcken 1890 - 1897

This is Willem Witsen's "Brief aan Philip Zilcken," an undated note at the Rijksmuseum. The initial impression is of dense, vertical lines formed by the artist's handwriting against a pale, neutral backdrop. These lines are not uniform; their varying thickness and direction create a dynamic, textured surface. Witsen's script functions as both text and image. Consider the structuralist notion that language is a system of signs. Here, the legibility of the words battles against the purely visual rhythm of the script. The ordered layout of the items listed suggests a rational attempt at categorization, yet the handwritten form injects a personal, almost chaotic element. In closing, note how the contrast between the systematic list and the free-flowing script destabilizes the idea of fixed meaning. This duality encourages us to view the artwork as a space where language and image converge, inviting multiple interpretations.