Brief aan Philip Zilcken Possibly 1923 - 1927

Rose Imel wrote "Brief aan Philip Zilcken" in French with a dip pen on paper. You can tell the writing is very fluid because the pen never leaves the surface of the paper. Her lines loop around in a kind of dance; they remind me of Cy Twombly's paintings because they're so free and uninhibited. I wonder what she was thinking when she wrote this letter. It seems like she was feeling vulnerable and trying to connect with someone. Maybe she was lonely or just wanted to share her thoughts and feelings. The ink is a kind of warm brown color, which gives the letter a sense of intimacy and warmth. It feels like you're getting a glimpse into her private world. As painters, we often find ourselves in conversation with other artists across time. I think Imel's letter is a beautiful example of how we can connect with each other through our work, even when we're separated by time and space.