Briefkaart aan Philip Zilcken Possibly 1912

Arend Hijner made this "Briefkaart aan Philip Zilcken" sometime around 1912, it's an everyday object elevated to something special, something to contemplate. You know, it's funny how a simple postcard can become a little portal into another time. Look closely at the handwriting, the way the ink bleeds slightly into the paper, or the stamp in the top right corner. You can almost feel Hijner's hand as he wrote this. It's a reminder that art isn't just about grand gestures, but about the small, intimate moments that make up our lives. The texture of the paper itself speaks volumes. It's aged and worn, carrying the weight of history. The words themselves are a bit of a mystery to me, not being Dutch. It reminds me a little bit of the work of Cy Twombly, just in its simple, raw expression and use of language and mark-making as a form of visual art. It's a lovely reminder that art is everywhere, in the most unexpected places.