Brief aan Philip Zilcken 1911 - 1930

This letter to Philip Zilcken is written in ink, with looping letterforms dancing across the page. I imagine Rose Imel writing this, perhaps in haste, the nib of her pen scratching the paper, each stroke a small, precise gesture. There's a rhythm here, a kind of visual music in the handwritten script that reminds me of Cy Twombly's painterly scrawls. I imagine Imel, pen in hand, carefully choosing each word, while bearing in mind the weight and significance of its intent. What feelings did she want to convey to Zilcken? What did she want him to know? Maybe she was thinking of other artists she admired or perhaps she was only thinking of Zilcken. Painters like Imel are in an ongoing dialogue, each one building on the other, constantly pushing the boundaries of what painting— or letter-writing—can be. It's all about expression, embracing uncertainty, and allowing for multiple readings.