Overlijdensbericht aan Philip Zilcken before 1929

This obituary to Philip Zilcken, came out at an unknown date and was made by an anonymous author. As an artwork it’s all about the crispness of the monochrome, a study in light and shadow, and the stark formality of the letterforms. What strikes me is how this functional, communicative piece transforms into something else entirely, something almost tender, through its very existence within an art context. The texture of the paper, the way the ink sits on the surface – these material qualities begin to speak louder. I’m drawn to the area around the words 'Lieutenant-Colonel E. ANDRÉ', how they anchor the page, becoming not just information, but a kind of visual poem. It's interesting how the words have been considered when creating the piece, what size they should be and how bold. It reminds me of the work of someone like Sturtevant, who played with appropriation, pushing us to see familiar images anew. This obituary, in its simplicity and directness, reminds us that art can be found in the most unexpected places.