Briefkaart aan Philip Zilcken before 1898

This is a "briefkaart," or postcard, sent to Philip Zilcken and written by Albert Verwey in 1886. We can discern from the stamps that it was sent from The Hague, Holland. At this time, postal systems were becoming increasingly reliable. We might therefore consider this "briefkaart" as a visual metaphor for social connection, linking artists and patrons through these new institutional networks. What social and intellectual exchange was made possible through such a humble, everyday object? The iconography of the Dutch monarchy, apparent in the seal at the top left, further alludes to the institutional apparatus of the state. These elements are not merely background information, but rather constitutive of the conditions of art making. In order to understand the significance of this postcard, it would be worthwhile to study Verwey's other correspondence, his essays, and even the postal history of the Netherlands.