Brief aan Philip Zilcken 1868 - 1928

Editor: So, here we have "Brief aan Philip Zilcken" a letter from 1868 to 1928 by Jan Toorop, made with ink on paper. The faded ink and the cursive script make me feel like I’m looking at a little time capsule, carrying secrets across decades. What leaps out at you? Curator: Oh, time capsules, indeed! It's like catching a whisper from the past, isn't it? The very script gives it a pulse. But look beyond just the words; see the dance of light and shadow created by the ink strokes. Toorop isn't just communicating; he's composing. Have you thought about what sort of person Toorop was by examining his penmanship? Editor: Hmm, a composer of correspondence… that’s a great way to put it! I see a flow in how he links the words. Almost musical, with rises and falls in the lines, even with this old paper. But, truthfully, the writing is not easy to read. Curator: Ah, yes, but think of it not as a barrier, but as a veil! It obscures a direct reading, teasing us into wanting to discover its hidden contents. This careful writing whispers of intentionality, perhaps the way the subject and its purpose might intertwine... Almost as if a great thought of the author exists and is transmitted through this unique handwriting! Editor: So, even the… illegibility adds to its charm, it becomes another artistic component, then? Curator: Precisely! The challenges of reading it are a way of connecting to Toorop and his artistry, don't you think? I guess we're interpreting not only his message, but also his mind through the dance of his ink. Editor: I never thought of letter writing as an art form itself. Seeing it that way really deepens how I experience this. Thanks! Curator: My pleasure! Remember to let your intuition guide you with art; and who knows what you will find out, and about yourself.