Brief aan Philip Zilcken 1854 - 1926

This is a letter, "Brief aan Philip Zilcken," by Mary Cassatt, now housed in the Rijksmuseum. The visual experience is immediately dominated by the stark contrast between the dark, elegant script and the off-white paper. The handwriting creates a rhythm of looping ascenders and descenders, a dance of line across the rectangular field. Consider how Cassatt, primarily known for her paintings and prints, engages with line here. Each stroke varies in weight and direction, conveying intimacy. The letterform itself becomes a structural element; the words are not just carriers of meaning, but shapes that contribute to the overall composition. The act of writing, in this context, transforms into a performative gesture. The formal qualities underscore the act of communication as a medium. This merges the personal with the structural, inviting us to consider how these elements intersect to create meaning.