Prentbriefkaart aan Philip Zilcken Possibly 1917

This is Leopoldo Bizio Gradenigo's painted postcard to Philip Zilcken. I imagine him making this small, intimate artwork as part of a correspondence, a tangible expression between friends. Look at the strokes, full of energy, as the artist has rendered each letter with care and attention. It must have been so thrilling! The ink is deep black, lending a graphic quality to the writing, allowing the text to emerge boldly. The various cancellations and stamps create a layering of meanings and textures. I think of other artists who communicated through painting and writing - Cy Twombly and his scribbled paintings, or the epistolary paintings of the late Theresa Hak Kyung Cha. Each artist's style is unique, each work a deeply personal expression. It makes you wonder what Philip Zilcken’s response was on receiving this card? The act of making and corresponding creates a beautiful, intimate exchange across time and space, and I can only dream what conversation the artists must have had.