Briefkaart aan Philip Zilcken Possibly 1902

This postcard was sent by Jan Toorop, though I can't tell exactly when or with what. What strikes me first is the handwritten note, the stamp and the printed text, all these marks together create a space that’s not quite personal, not quite official. The pale green ink reminds me of bureaucratic forms, but then there are these swooping lines in the handwriting, like little doodles. The marks seem dashed off, but each one is precise. Look at the stamp, with it's postmark on top, it's like a painting in miniature. Toorop made paintings and drawings, but he also designed posters and book covers. He was into this whole range of image making, and you can see that interest here, in this everyday object elevated through attention and care. This card reminds me of work by contemporary artists like Moyra Davey, who also blurs the lines between personal and public, art and life. It’s about embracing chance, celebrating the imperfect, and finding beauty in the mundane.