Briefkaart aan Philip Zilcken Possibly 1905

This briefkaart, or postcard, was sent by Martinus Kramer to Philip Zilcken at some point in the late 19th or early 20th century. Imagine the hand carefully forming each letter, the pressure of the pen creating varying thicknesses in the lines. You can almost feel the texture of the paper beneath the nib. I wonder what Kramer was thinking as he wrote this message. Was it a quick note, or a carefully considered communication? What was his relationship to Zilcken? There's a beautiful rhythm to the writing, each word flowing into the next. You can see the postal markings—the stamp, the postmark—each adding another layer of history and meaning to this small piece of paper. It makes me think about all the other artists who have used postcards as a means of communication and connection like On Kawara's date paintings. It's all one big conversation, isn't it? And just like in painting, there are no fixed meanings, only possibilities.