Briefkaart aan Philip Zilcken Possibly 1908 - 1920

This "Briefkaart aan Philip Zilcken" by N.J. Singels is rendered with ink on paper. The eye is drawn to the interplay between script and image. Note the structure created by the horizontal lines of the address fields overlaid with cursive handwriting. The composition is punctuated by the geometry of circular postal marks. These stamped circles overlap with linear text, creating layers of visual information. The top right features a square stamp bearing an image. The handwriting in the artwork can be read as an index of the artist's presence. While the postal markings, with their circular forms and regimented dates, create a counterpoint, suggesting systems of order and control. The convergence of personal expression and standardized postal systems can be seen as destabilizing the boundaries between the individual and the institution. Consider how this interplay of forms and systems communicates ideas about personal and public communication. Such layering invites us to reinterpret the relationship between sender and receiver, challenging any fixed notion of a singular message.