Brief aan Philip Zilcken Possibly 1923

Jeanne Erlich wrote this letter to Philip Zilcken with ink on paper on February 13, 1925. The sepia ink feels like an extension of the hand, each word a gesture, a dance. It’s kind of like when you’re painting and you get into this flow state, not thinking, just letting the marks lead you. The paper has aged, you can see the material quality of it, feel its history and fragility. Each stroke varies in pressure and thickness, conveying a sense of immediacy and intimacy, like a heartbeat on the page. Look at the way the ink pools in certain spots, creating dark, concentrated areas against the lighter, feathery strokes. It's kind of like the push and pull of color in a painting. The "C" in Cher, is particularly playful and full of character, and the repeated crossing of the "t" forms a rhythm that runs through the whole piece. The letter reminds me of Cy Twombly, who also used handwriting as a form of drawing. Both artists show the beauty of imperfection, and the power of simple marks. It celebrates ambiguity and personal expression.