Briefkaart aan August Allebé Possibly 1889

This is a "Briefkaart aan August Allebé" by Jérôme Alexander Sillem. The card is dominated by a carefully structured arrangement of textual and postal elements. Note how the austerity of the pale, rectangular space is punctuated by imprints and inscriptions in subdued tones of purple and grey. The printed word "BRIEFKAART" sets a formal tone which is juxtaposed with the cursive address and the sender's signature. The composition here functions as a semiotic system, where each component—the postage stamp, the postmark, the printed and handwritten text—acts as a signifier. Sillem's work highlights how communication is mediated through standardized forms, yet retains a personal touch through handwriting. This interplay between the impersonal and personal, the formal and informal, underscores a tension inherent in modern systems of communication. Consider how the postal markings and cancellation stamps deface the pristine surface, introducing an element of chance and entropy into the controlled space of the card. This tension between order and disorder mirrors the broader cultural and philosophical discourse of the time.