Briefkaart aan Philip Zilcken Possibly 1903 - 1924

This is a postcard to Philip Zilcken, made in 1905 by Vittorio Pica, a tangible artifact of the Fifth International Art Exhibition in Venice. It's not a painting, exactly, but it's all about art. Look at the mix of printed text and handwriting, the layered stamps and seals. The surface isn't flat, but textured with ink and paper. The handwriting sprawls across the card, connecting the sender to the receiver in this intimate form, a web of correspondence. It’s interesting how a mundane item can be charged with so much information. In the context of art, there are a number of artists who engage with correspondence and text, maybe someone like Cy Twombly, or even closer to home, a Ray Johnson. To me, it’s a humble reminder that art thrives in conversation and exchange. The ambiguity of its creation only adds to its enduring appeal.