Briefkaart aan Philip Zilcken Possibly 1905

This 'Briefkaart aan Philip Zilcken' by Jan Toorop is an artwork in and of itself. It's not just a functional object; it's a record of communication, carrying traces of its journey. I'm fascinated by the intersection of text and image here. The act of writing—the looping script, the carefully addressed names—becomes a kind of drawing. I wonder about Toorop, the artist and sender, pausing to consider the weight of each word, each stroke of the pen. What's the story behind this correspondence? The cancellations and stamps, like layered brushstrokes, add another layer of visual interest. Together with the printed text, they speak to a particular historical moment. It's like a conversation happening across time, between Toorop, his recipient, and us, the viewers.