Brief aan Philip Zilcken before 1920

This undated letter, written by Grada Hermina Marius, likely in the late 19th or early 20th century, is composed of elegant cursive script upon a modestly sized card. The monochromatic palette and the density of the handwriting create an intimate, almost tactile experience, as if we are privy to a private exchange. The formal elements—the controlled yet fluid lines of the script and the overall composition—reveal an attempt to negotiate language itself. Each word functions as a signifier, hinting at a network of cultural codes and personal references. Marius touches upon figures like Delacroix and Daumier, and concepts such as "modern psychology". The act of writing becomes a performance, a way of navigating and contesting established meanings. Notice how the letter destabilizes the boundary between public and private. It prompts us to question the role of personal correspondence as both a medium of communication and a form of artistic expression. The formal qualities of the letter serve not just as a means of conveying information but as a way of engaging with broader artistic and philosophical discourses.