Brief aan Philip Zilcken Possibly 1890

This is a letter written by Jan Vrolijk to Philip Zilcken in 1890. Immediately striking is the interplay between the structured form of the written word and the expressive potential of handwriting. Notice how the script dances across the page, the varying pressure of the pen creating a rhythm of thick and thin strokes. The slant of the letters and the loops and flourishes are not merely functional but also deeply personal. This tension between legibility and artistic expression destabilizes our conventional understanding of written communication. Here, the formal structure of language, intended for clear transmission of information, merges with the subjective expression of the artist's hand, thus challenging the fixed boundaries between art and communication. This letter transforms the very act of writing into an art form.