Briefkaart aan Jan Veth Possibly 1920 - 1926

Curator: Well, look at this intriguing relic! This is a postcard to Jan Veth, likely created sometime between 1920 and 1926, from the hand of Karel Johan Lodewijk Alberdingk Thijm. It’s rendered with ink on paper, more than just a note—it’s a miniature world! Editor: It definitely feels like peeking into a private exchange. I find it remarkable that something so small – a simple piece of mail, really – can feel so intimate and personal, despite the almost administrative look to it. The faded stamps and handwritten address give it this wonderful sense of nostalgia. What strikes you when you look at it? Curator: Ah, nostalgia is key here. Think about the lost art of letter writing. But for me, it's the texture, both literal and implied. The paper itself must have stories etched into it, and the carefully rendered hand-lettering. See how each character seems to dance? The little flourishes, the boldness in certain strokes... almost a portrait of the writer's state of mind. Tell me, what does the *hand* of this thing say to you? Editor: I agree – it really makes you think about the time and care that went into it! It feels more deliberate than an email could ever be. There's also something very human in the imperfections; the slight smudges, the unevenness of the ink. It's lovely, it really is. Curator: Exactly! The 'mistakes' are where the art resides, don’t you think? It transcends the everyday scribble to be something more… permanent, almost. Editor: Absolutely. It’s like each imperfection holds a bit of the creator’s essence. Curator: Right. And from such a simple everyday object! It truly shows that beauty resides even in ephemera if you have the right eyes. It made me think of what correspondence means, truly. Editor: It definitely gave me a fresh perspective! I’ll never look at a postcard the same way again!