Briefkaart aan Philip Zilcken before 1918

This Briefkaart aan Philip Zilcken, made by Maurits van der Valk, looks like it was put together with ink, stamps, and a whole lot of intention. There's something about the way the blue ink meanders across the page, each word a delicate dance, that grabs my attention. It's as if the artist is whispering secrets, each letter a carefully placed brushstroke in a story. Then there's the stamp, a little pop of green holding the whole thing down like a paperweight. It reminds me of Cy Twombly's scribbled elegance, or even a little Joseph Beuys with the materials laid bare and out in the open. It's like Van der Valk knew that the conversation between artist and viewer doesn't have to be so serious, that sometimes the most profound statements are the ones whispered in a playful kind of way.