Briefkaart aan Willem Bogtman Possibly 1922 - 1927

This is a postcard by Richard Nicolaüs Roland Holst to Willem Bogtman, probably made with pen and ink. The script is so open, flowing and quick, and like all the best handwriting, you can feel the speed of the writer’s hand, and the rhythm of thought becoming language on the page. It’s a humble piece of paper, marked with ink, the postmark, and a small stamp, and this creates an intimate emotional experience. Holst makes no attempt to conceal or obscure the process – every stroke is laid bare. I love the way the individual marks form themselves into words, which then become a message of sorts. The diagonal slash of the pen, like a fast, personal brushstroke, almost bisects the card, creating a formal and metaphorical division. It makes me think of Cy Twombly, who also reveled in the direct, unfiltered mark. For me, this piece highlights how art is an ongoing conversation across time, always open to new interpretations.