Prentbriefkaart aan Philip Zilcken Possibly 1922

Here's a postcard to Philip Zilcken, made in 1922, probably with ink and paper. It's the kind of everyday object that is easy to overlook, but the gestures embedded in the handwriting are actually incredibly compelling. It’s such a modest thing, but look closely, and you can really see the pressure of the nib on the paper, the rhythm of the hand, the way the writer looped certain letters, and straightened others. It's pretty incredible to see how the whole surface is built up line by line, bit by bit, layer by layer. The stamp and franking mark give a real sense of place and time – Venice, 1922. You can almost feel the bustle of the train station, the anticipation of the recipient. For me, this card brings to mind Cy Twombly. He also worked with handwriting and the layering of marks, elevating the everyday into something monumental. Art is like that; it’s a conversation across time, a constant exchange of ideas and perspectives.