Briefkaart aan Philip Zilcken Possibly 1901 - 1918

This postcard, sent by Emile Claus to Philip Zilcken, is like a mini-painting in itself. It's not just about the message, but the feel of the handwriting, those faded grey letterforms layered over the printed elements, that creates the mood. I can imagine Claus there, pen in hand, maybe thinking about light, since he was a master of it. What was going through his head as he dashed off this note? Maybe a quick hello, a thought about painting, who knows? I find myself connecting with the gesture of his hand. The way he forms each letter, almost as if it were a brushstroke, gives a sense of him, of his intention. I like to imagine he picked up the pen and let his thoughts flow without overthinking it too much. Painters are always talking to each other, even across time. This little postcard feels like a piece of a larger conversation, a shared understanding between artists about life, light, and the sheer joy of making. It reminds me that sometimes the simplest gestures can carry the most meaning.