Visitekaartje aan Philip Zilcken Possibly 1902 - 1908

This calling card was composed by Octave Maus for Philip Zilcken in 1902. Imagine Maus, in his studio, grabbing a pen, dipping it in ink, and with a flourish, dashing off a note to his friend. The act of writing itself becomes a kind of performance. Look at that signature – it's not just a name, it's a gesture, a dance of the hand across the paper. You can see the influence of Japanese calligraphy, that elegant simplicity. I wonder if he paused, considered each stroke, or if it all flowed out in one go, a spontaneous expression of friendship. Like a painting, you can see how the marks build up, thick in some places, thin in others, creating a kind of texture. It’s incredible to think about how artists like Maus have inspired generations of painters and writers. We're all just trying to figure things out, one mark at a time, and in conversation with each other.