Briefkaart aan Philip Zilcken Possibly 1896 - 1897

Léon Deschamps sent this Carte Postale to Philip Zilcken, and though undated, the postmarks indicate it was sent in July 1915. The card itself is a simple piece of paper stock, mass-produced and readily available. It embodies the democratization of communication at the turn of the century, enabled by industrial printing and postal systems. The stamp, printed with an image of the French symbol Marianne suggests the mechanization of design through photogravure and other forms of mechanical reproduction. The handwritten address, in contrast, provides a personal touch, a break in the relentless march of progress. The postmarks, applied with a heavy hand, show the human labor involved in the sorting and delivery of mail. This humble artifact thus encapsulates the tension between industrial efficiency and human connection, a defining characteristic of the modern age. It challenges us to consider the social and cultural impact of mass production on individual expression.