Briefkaart aan Philip Zilcken Possibly 1901 - 1918

This is a postcard to Philip Zilcken by Emile Claus. It's all about the trace of a thought isn't it? The way the ink almost floats on the surface, a whisper of communication. Look at the handwritten script, so light, it's as if the words are barely tethered to the paper. The ink, like a diluted wash, creates a ghostly effect. See how the smudges of the postmarks soften the edges, blurring the lines between the official and the personal. This reminds me of Cy Twombly, but a Twombly in miniature. There's something intimate about receiving a handwritten note, a direct connection to the sender's hand, their mind. Here, Claus isn't just sending a message, he's sharing a moment, a fragment of himself. It's a fleeting exchange, like a quick sketch capturing a passing thought. Art is just sharing a thought, and hoping the other person catches it.