Envelop aan Philip Zilcken before 1924

This envelope was made around 1924 by Rose Imel, and it’s addressed to Philip Zilcken. But, in a way, it’s also addressed to us, the viewers, and the future. I love the act of writing, of mark making, and that’s what comes across here. I imagine Imel, pen in hand, carefully forming each letter, each flourish. The ink, a deep sepia, contrasts so elegantly with the creamy paper. The stamp is like a little emblem, grounding the work in a specific time and place: Antwerp in 1924. The torn edges and the stains tell a story of travel, of hands that held it, and of time passing, all adding another layer of emotional resonance. It’s not just an envelope; it's a relic, a fragment of someone’s life. It makes me think about the ephemeral nature of communication, about the messages we send out into the world and the traces they leave behind. What a stunning, intimate work.