Briefkaart aan Philip Zilcken Possibly 1906

Emile Decoeur created this postcard to Philip Zilcken, with ink and paper, probably in his studio in Paris. The looping lines of handwriting address the recipient in elegant swirls, like a dance across the page. I feel like I’m watching Decoeur’s hand move, as it leaves its mark, each stroke a deliberate, yet fluid gesture. I wonder what kind of pen he used, and how the ink felt as it flowed onto the paper, a smooth, dark contrast to the paper’s surface. The marks are like a conversation between two people, across distance, inviting us to imagine the thoughts and feelings exchanged. But it also forms part of an ongoing exchange of ideas, a reminder that artists are always in dialogue with each other, drawing inspiration and forging new paths in the process.