Briefkaart aan Philip Zilcken Possibly 1895

Editor: We’re looking at a postcard from possibly 1895, “Briefkaart aan Philip Zilcken,” by Eduard Karsen. It’s...well, it's a postcard. Sort of unassuming. What captures your attention about this piece? Curator: For me, it’s like finding a little poem whispered across time. I love that Karsen took the time to consider his handwriting as much as any brushstroke. Editor: So, it’s like the message is the art? Curator: Exactly! Calligraphy, particularly in an informal setting like this, offers an intimate glimpse into the artist’s personality. Think about how each loop, slant, and pressure reveals a bit about his character. Editor: It’s interesting to think of handwriting that way. Do you think the act of writing the postcard was a performance in some way? Curator: Maybe “performance” is a bit strong. It feels more like a quiet conversation. He is trying to express a thought. If we consider that Zilcken was a painter as well, and perhaps Karsen had some professional or artistic expectations, that conversation deepens, doesn’t it? Almost like a visual handshake. Editor: It adds so much depth to such a small, simple thing. I'll never look at a handwritten letter the same way again! Curator: Isn’t that wonderful? Every piece of art—every artifact, really—has the potential to teach us new ways of seeing.