Briefkaart aan Philip Zilcken before 1914

This postcard was sent to Philip Zilcken, an artist and art critic, in 1914 by F.M. Melchers. It's a humble object, made of paper—a cheap and readily available material, even then. The message is handwritten, a personal touch in contrast to the mass-produced card. The stamp, a small square of printed color, speaks of a postal system, and indeed a whole infrastructure of exchange. Consider the labor involved in producing the paper, printing the card and stamp, and delivering it. Even in this simple artifact, we see the intersection of craft, industry, and personal expression. The postcard format democratized art, making images accessible to a wider audience, yet retaining a sense of individual connection through the handwritten message. It blurs the lines between functional object and artwork.