Briefkaart aan Philip Zilcken Possibly 1913

This "Briefkaart aan Philip Zilcken" was made by Anton L. Koster, sometime in the early 20th century, probably using pen and ink. The marks form these tight, controlled lines of script, the image is born out of the process of writing. And what a curious process handwriting is! We’re looking at the material aspects of communication here: the texture of the card, the stamp of the postmark. I'm drawn to the contrast between the careful address, and the more casual feel of the letter on the reverse. The forward slash that makes up the 'k' of Koster, mirrored in the 'k' of Zilcken, these little gestures speak of the artist's hand. The Dutch artist Piet Mondrian comes to mind, his earlier landscapes and cityscapes share a kind of structured abstraction with the marks on this card. Art is always an ongoing conversation, built from the scraps of what came before. It's about openness and ambiguity, a space where different voices and interpretations can meet and mingle.