Brief aan Philip Zilcken before 1922

This is "Brief aan Philip Zilcken," a letter by Rose Imel, and what I see when I look at this image is not just communication, but the artistry of handwriting. The way the ink—probably iron gall—flows and fades, it’s like a quiet dance across the page. The colour is subdued, almost monochromatic, giving it a timeless feel. You can almost hear the scratch of the pen on the paper, and the quiet concentration of the writer. The loops and curves of the handwriting give it such a beautiful texture that I almost want to touch it, like a blind person reading braille. Notice the long tail on the ‘g’ in “longue”—it’s a flourish, a little personal stamp, like a painter’s signature. This reminds me a little of Cy Twombly’s work; the way he used writing and mark-making as a form of abstract expression. This letter shows how even the most functional forms of communication can become art. It’s about the process, the gesture, and the intimate connection between the hand, the tool, and the page.