Briefkaart aan Philip Zilcken Possibly 1902

This 'briefkaart', or postcard, was written by Jan Toorop at the turn of the century, sent to Philip Zilcken, probably with a fountain pen and green ink, in the Netherlands. I wonder what it might have been like to send a brief message like this one, to someone you knew. I like to think about what I'm trying to communicate when I make a painting - whether it's a gesture, a feeling, or a meaning. The texture of the paper, the way the ink sits on the surface, even the act of writing itself—it all matters. I imagine Toorop carefully choosing the card, thinking about Zilcken as he wrote. I think of him sending it out into the world, hoping it would reach its destination and deliver its message. And now, here it is, over a hundred years later, still communicating across time. It is a reminder that our actions, even the smallest ones, can have a lasting impact. The most important thing is that we are in conversation with each other, always learning, always growing.