Brief aan Philip Zilcken Possibly 1924

Lya Berger wrote this letter to Philip Zilcken, probably with a dip pen and ink, on a piece of paper with a light greyish-blue hue. The paper is covered with a flowing script in a dark grey ink. The script is dense, with lines of text weaving and overlapping across the page. You can almost feel the artist hunched over the paper, carefully forming each letter. It looks like such a personal thing to do. The ink has a slight sheen, catching the light and highlighting the texture of the paper. There are smudges and slight variations in the ink's darkness, suggesting moments of hesitation, adjustment, or perhaps even a slip of the hand. The letter feels like a glimpse into Berger's thoughts, revealing something about her relationship with Zilcken. I imagine other women artists writing letters to other men artists - a chain of influence. It is so alive with thought and intention.