Briefkaart aan Philip Zilcken Possibly 1900 - 1910

Willy Martens created this postcard to Philip Zilcken, using ink to create a highly functional and well-designed space for communication. I can imagine Martens picking up this card, maybe even smelling the paper, considering what he was going to say and how he was going to say it. There's a beauty in its simplicity, and a connection to a time when handwriting was the norm. The stamp placement, the penned address, and the postmark all convey a sense of intention and care. What story was he trying to tell, and what was he trying to hide? The material is thin, almost like air. The paper allows the marks to seep into it, and the stamp is like a tiny painting embedded into the surface. In art, as in life, we learn from those who came before us. Martens reminds us that every mark carries weight. His practice of postal art encourages me to be more attentive to my mark-making, to embrace the happy accidents, and to allow my own voice to emerge. What can you learn from his voice?