Briefkaart aan Philip Zilcken Possibly 1909 - 1915

This carte postale to Philip Zilcken was made by Vittorio Pica. The overlapping layers and textures of printed text, handwritten script, and stamped markings create a palimpsest of communication. It reminds me that artmaking is also a form of communication, a way to reach out and connect with others. The green ink of the handwritten message contrasts with the muted pinks and reds of the printed text and stamp. It feels like looking at an abstract landscape. The looping script of the handwriting becomes its own kind of mark making, with flourishes and gestures that echo the rhythms of the natural world. Each stroke of the pen is a deliberate act, a physical trace of the artist’s presence. There's a casualness to this card, like a quick sketch dashed off in a moment of inspiration. It reminds me of Cy Twombly’s loose, gestural paintings. Both invite us to look beyond the surface and consider the layers of meaning and emotion embedded within. Art is an ongoing conversation, an exchange of ideas across time and space.