Briefkaart aan Philip Zilcken Possibly 1895

This Briefkaart aan Philip Zilcken was created by Willem Maris, using paper and ink. At first glance, it's just an old postcard, right? But consider the materiality of it. Paper, once precious, now mass-produced, carrying a message across distances with ease. The printed text, "Briefkaart," speaks to standardization, a world increasingly reliant on efficient communication. The handwritten address adds a personal touch, a counterpoint to the industrialized form. Look at the stamp, a tiny emblem of state control and postal infrastructure. The stamp and postmark also speak to labor, the postal workers who sorted and delivered this message. The history embedded in this simple piece of paper reminds us that even the most mundane objects are products of complex social and economic systems. It challenges us to consider the amount of work involved in its production, from paper manufacture to its design.