Briefkaart aan Philip Zilcken Possibly 1899

This is a briefkaart, a postcard, sent to Philip Zilcken by Vittorio Pica. It is machine printed on thin card stock, a format developed in the 19th century as a cheap, efficient way to send messages. The card’s material and production are part of a wider history of industrialization and mass communication. The printed design, postage stamp, and postmark, all elements of the card, were enabled by advances in printing, postal services, and transportation. The handwriting in red ink marks the card as more personal, with the message a direct expression, made by the sender. The postcard is a material embodiment of a moment in time and place, capturing a snippet of social interaction and artistic exchange between two individuals within a network of artistic exchange. In considering the postcard's significance, we should recognize that its value extends beyond its function as a mere message carrier, and is an artifact deeply embedded in social, technological, and cultural contexts.