Briefkaart aan Philip Zilcken Possibly 1901 - 1922

Jan Toorop made this postcard to Philip Zilcken without an exact date, but the postmark tells a story of its own. I can imagine Toorop sitting down with his pen, maybe after a long day of painting, the ink flowing as he jotted down a note. It’s intriguing to imagine what was going through Toorop’s mind, you know? Was he thinking about the interplay between realism and symbolism that characterises much of his work? Or just sharing a simple message? The handwriting itself becomes a kind of gesture, like the brushstrokes in a painting – each curve and line imbued with intention. There's a conversation happening here, not just between the artist and Zilcken, but between different forms of expression, like the painting and the written word. Each informs the other. Artists are in a constant dialogue across time and space, building upon each other's ideas. This little postcard is a reminder that art isn't just about the grand gestures, but also the small, intimate exchanges that fuel creativity.