Brief aan Philip Zilcken Possibly 1902

Here is a letter in French, titled “Brief aan Philip Zilcken,” composed in 1902 by Vittorio Pica in either Naples or Rome. Look at the handwriting—the cursive script tilting forward, the lines on the page. I imagine Pica hunched over a desk, the scratch of the nib on paper, the ink still wet as he continues to write. I imagine him composing the letter in a flurry, maybe while thinking about other artists that he wants to include in an exhibition. The act of writing itself, I think, is a form of drawing, a way of translating thoughts and ideas into a physical form. These handwritten marks carry the energy of their creator, communicating intention, meaning, and feeling. Pica’s letter reminds me that art is a conversation, an exchange of ideas across time and space. We all draw inspiration from one another, building upon the work that has come before, adding our own voice to the ongoing dialogue.