Briefkaart aan Jan Ponstijn en Henriëtte Johanna Petronella van Hilten Possibly 1942 - 1943

This is a postcard to Jan Ponstijn and Henriëtte Johanna Petronella van Hilten, written by Leo Gestel. You can tell it's handmade, right? The ink, probably applied with a nib pen, has a scratchy quality to it. Gestel wrote in 1942, and I can imagine him at his desk, letting the words flow freely. The letters crowd together and tumble down the page in what looks like a single take. There are words and phrases I can’t quite decipher, but it's more about the gesture and the feeling of the artist, writing to someone he cares about. The materiality here is super important: the rough texture of the card, the faded ink, and the handwriting itself, all hint at the writer’s inner state. It reminds me a little bit of Cy Twombly and his scribbled paintings; art as direct expression. Ultimately, this card feels less about clarity and more about connection – a little piece of the artist’s heart, sent through the mail.