Brief aan Elsie Maud Cownie Possibly 1905

This letter, *Brief aan Elsie Maud Cownie*, was written by Philip Zilcken in Venice, most likely with a dip pen and ink. The light pressure creates a delicate flow. Look how the artist's hand moves across the page, each stroke so personal and intimate, like a dance. I can almost feel Zilcken there, composing his thoughts, the pen scratching against the paper. What was he thinking as he wrote those words to Elsie? Was he choosing them carefully? I’m particularly drawn to the opening phrase, “Very dear Miss”. The way the letters lean into each other, it almost feels like a whisper. It reminds me of the letters between Paula Modersohn-Becker and Clara Westhoff, those late night confessions between artists, or the many letters Vincent Van Gogh wrote to his brother Theo. Letters between artists or artworks, across generations, they’re all part of this ongoing conversation, influencing and inspiring each other, pushing the boundaries of expression.