Briefkaart aan Philip Zilcken Possibly 1917

This postcard, “Briefkaart aan Philip Zilcken,” was written by L. Berden in 1917. You can see how Berden has carefully attended to the act of writing itself. The ink bleeds and stains, and the stamp merges with the texture of the paper. I imagine Berden, pen in hand, carefully forming each letter with precision. What was it like to write with ink back then? There’s something incredibly intimate and personal about handwriting, about putting pen to paper. You can almost feel the artist's hand moving across the surface, hesitating, retracing, and committing to each stroke. Berden probably thought about what paper to use, what pen would best convey his message, and what words would best capture the moment. These material considerations shaped the creative process and ultimately influenced the final artwork. Like all artists, Berden was in conversation with other artists of his time, learning from their techniques, and pushing the boundaries of his own practice. Every mark, every line, every gesture is part of this ongoing dialogue across time.