Brief aan Philip Zilcken Possibly 1904 - 1914

This is a letter by Pierre Pinet to Philip Zilcken made with ink on paper, most likely written in 1895. Look at how Pinet covers the page, filling the negative space as though the very act of writing is as important as the content. The ink has faded in places, creating a mottled effect, giving the impression of age and the sense of an object that has been treasured and handled over time. The grid format of the paper peeks through and provides a framework for the handwritten text to exist within. Notice the shapes of the letters, some are carefully formed and legible, while others are gestural and abstracted, as though the writing has an urgency that cannot be contained. This use of text reminds me of Cy Twombly's scrawled paintings. Like Twombly, Pinet seems less concerned with communicating a clear message, and more invested in the rhythm and flow of language itself. This is writing as drawing, as a direct translation of thought into physical form.