Briefkaart aan Philip Zilcken Possibly 1919

This is a postcard, its undated, but the stamp is from 1919. It was written by Alphonse Stengelin to Philip Zilcken. Look at how the ink bleeds into the paper! You can see the traces of each word being formed in real time, the pressure of the pen, and the steady hand controlling it. The letterforms are so elegant and yet so casual. The text takes up much of the card, it is all in conversation with the standardized printed text that frames it. It is so personal and yet very much of its time. I love how these handwritten lines activate the whole surface! It reminds me a little bit of Cy Twombly's work, I mean both artists are engaging with history and the act of communication! It suggests that art is not about answers, but about the ongoing, messy dialogue we have with each other.