Briefkaart aan Philip Zilcken Possibly 1922

This postcard to Philip Zilcken, authorship unknown, is a landscape of communication, layered with handwriting, stamps, and postmarks. It’s the kind of piece where the process of its making is right there on the surface. Look closely, and you can see the pressure of the pen, the swiftness of the cursive, and the smudges of ink. The stamps, with their delicate portraits and bold cancellations, add another layer of texture and meaning. The overall effect is not just a message sent, but a record of time, place, and human connection. Notice the loop of the ‘M’ in Monsieur, it’s so full of intention, I’m reminded of Cy Twombly and his fascination with the gesture of writing. Like Twombly, this postcard isn't about perfect legibility, but about the beauty and expressiveness of mark-making itself.