Briefkaart aan Philip Zilcken Possibly 1887

This Briefkaart was sent to Philip Zilcken by Alfaro Reijding, a Dutch artist, most likely around 1919. It's made of paper, a common material that by this point had become almost universally available due to industrial production. The printing on the card hints at these standardized processes, yet the handwriting is unique to the sender. Notice the stamps and postal markings that add layers of meaning, speaking to the social act of communication. These marks, generated through a vast, complex postal system, also reflect how industrialization allowed for faster exchange of information. The card’s simple materiality belies the complex web of labor and systems it represents – from the workers in paper mills to the postal carriers. It’s a reminder that even the most mundane objects can be seen as products of immense, coordinated effort. Considering this encourages us to look beyond the surface, and to recognize the deep historical context embedded in everyday objects.