Brief aan Philip Zilcken 1875 - 1930

This is a letter by Isaac Israels to Philip Zilcken, and it’s just the sort of thing that makes you think about art as a dialogue, a way of thinking through making. Look at the way the words trail across the page. The ink is thin, almost transparent, yet the strokes are confident, full of movement. It’s like a dance, a rhythm of thought made visible. You can sense the speed, the urgency, the personal touch. I can only imagine the letter had to be written quickly. Notice the way the lines curl and loop, how they sometimes thicken and then fade away. Each stroke seems to carry a little burst of energy, connecting one word to the next. It reminds me of Cy Twombly’s scribbled paintings, where the act of writing becomes a way of drawing, a way of feeling. It’s a reminder that art isn’t just about the finished product but the process, the messy, imperfect act of creation.