Briefkaart aan Philip Zilcken before 1898

This is a carte postale to Philip Zilcken by Octave Maus. The formal elements of its pale surface is disrupted by handwritten script and circular stamps. These disruptions create a play between order and chance. The text on the card follows a structured layout dictated by postal conventions. This contrasts with the more organic and personal inscriptions. Note how Maus's handwriting brings a tactile, human element to the otherwise impersonal form of the postcard. The stamps, with their circular design and bold typography, add a layer of visual complexity. They mark the card's journey through the postal system, each a signifier of time and place. It’s interesting to consider how Maus uses the postcard format to engage with ideas of communication and connection. The postal system, with its own semiotic structure, becomes a canvas for personal expression. This interplay challenges the fixed meanings of both the message and the medium.