Briefkaart aan Philip Zilcken Possibly 1889

This "Briefkaart aan Philip Zilcken" was crafted in 1889, a simple paper card bearing handwritten ink. It is a piece of social infrastructure, connecting individuals through the postal system. The card itself speaks volumes about labor and class. It reflects the efficiency of industrial-scale paper production alongside the intimacy of handwritten communication. The card stock would have been mass-produced and inexpensive, a sign of increasing democratization of communication made possible by industrialization. Yet, someone still took the time to write a message, perhaps with a pen manufactured in a factory. The postal stamps and markings, traces of labor invested in delivery, only emphasize the amount of work involved in the production process. Consider the contrast between the card's humble materials and the potential importance of its message, maybe even an artful missive. It underscores how materials, making, and context are crucial in understanding the full meaning of an artwork, blurring the boundaries between the fine and the functional.