Brief aan Philip Zilcken Possibly 1900 - 1929

This letter to Philip Zilcken was composed around 1900 with ink on paper, a simple act of communication turned into something quietly beautiful. The hand-written script dances across the page, each stroke deliberate, yet fluid, like a calligraphic painting. Look closely, and you’ll notice how the ink varies in tone, some areas darker and more pronounced, others lighter, almost fading into the grid of the paper. This contrast gives the letter a textural depth, a sense of history etched into its surface. The even lines of the squared paper act as a grounding base for the more impulsive cursive script. My eye is drawn to the loops and flourishes, the way the ascenders and descenders reach out, creating a rhythm that’s both elegant and personal. It reminds me of Cy Twombly’s scribbled paintings, where language becomes abstract art. This letter feels connected to a world of artistic correspondence, reminiscent of the letters between Van Gogh and his brother Theo, offering a glimpse into the artist's mind and the intimate act of creation. It’s a reminder that art exists in the everyday, in the simple act of putting pen to paper, inviting us to find beauty in the ordinary.