Brief aan Philip Zilcken Possibly 1919

Here is a letter to Philip Zilcken. It was written in 1919 by Rose Imel using ink on paper. You know, handwriting itself is such a bodily expression, like dancing, each stroke a gesture, a movement across the page. I wonder what it was like for Imel to write this letter. Maybe she was sitting at a desk, pen in hand, carefully forming each word. I can feel her presence in the pressure of the pen, the loops and curves, each letter a little world unto itself. The words must have flowed quickly. Look at the way she forms each word. It is so full of feeling and life, and is a physical artifact of her thoughts and emotions. The artist's hand is such a sensitive and expressive tool. It is amazing to think of all the artists who have come before, each one leaving their mark on the world. They are all in conversation with one another, inspiring and influencing each other across time. Painting is a language. It's an ongoing dialogue that embraces ambiguity and uncertainty.