Briefkaart aan Etha Fles before 1897

This ‘Briefkaart aan Etha Fles’ was made in the Netherlands by Jan Veth, though the date is not known. It is a simple pre-printed postcard, with the address filled in by the sender. The making of such an everyday object speaks volumes about the development of industrial society. With the rise of mass production, even personal communication became standardized and routinized. Consider the labor involved in producing the paper, printing the card, and distributing it through the postal system. Each step represents a complex network of workers and machines, all contributing to the efficient delivery of a simple message. Even the stamps are an expression of state bureaucracy, made to exacting specifications. By focusing on the material and production processes of this humble postcard, we gain insight into the social and economic forces that shape our daily lives, blurring the boundaries between art, craft, and the everyday.