Briefkaart aan Elsie Maud Cownie Possibly 1906

This card, a “Briefkaart aan Elsie Maud Cownie,” was sent by Philip Zilcken, though exactly when is unknown. It's that kind of in-between object, where writing and drawing meet! I imagine Zilcken, pen in hand, carefully looping and stroking the ink across the paper. The handwriting is fluid, but it also seems quite formal in the carefully inscribed address. The card itself is a pale white, with the remnants of stamps in faded greens and browns. The smudges and postmarks tell a story of travel and touch. I can almost feel the weight of the message. The artist probably labored over choosing just the right phrase, the perfect sentiment to express. Zilcken's practice often explored themes of intimacy and connection, and this card feels like an extension of that interest. You get the sense that it is the intimate exchange between people, like an embrace or a quiet conversation.