Brief aan Philip Zilcken Possibly 1913 - 1917

This letter was written on July 3rd, 1913 by the Belgian artist Armand Rassenfosse. It’s just ink on paper, two of the most elemental materials in any maker’s studio. But consider the labor involved. Not just the author’s thoughts and words, but also the preparation of the ink, the sourcing and processing of the paper – likely handmade at this time, rather than machine-produced. Calligraphy itself is a craft, requiring years of practice. The very act of handwriting is now largely lost; we mostly type. But in the past, handwriting was a means of self-expression, of showing character. Rassenfosse’s script is elegant, but also reveals something of his personality – perhaps quick and efficient. Letters like this are direct links to the past. They show how much time and care went into even routine communications. That makes them quite different from a quick email or text today. They remind us how much our lives have changed thanks to automation.