Briefkaart aan Jan Veth Possibly 1891 - 1899

Curator: Here we have a piece of ephemera: Eduard Karsen’s "Briefkaart aan Jan Veth," a postcard likely dating from the 1890s, executed in ink on paper. What catches your eye about this unassuming piece? Editor: Well, right away, it’s whispering “secret society” vibes to me. That scripted text—so deliberate, so proper. And those stamps and seals! It all hints at hidden messages being passed among artists. Curator: You pick up on a key point: communication and coded languages. Beyond the simple act of sending mail, we might think of how artists shared ideas, influencing each other through visual vocabulary and symbolic imagery of the day. Even Karsen’s signature becomes a sort of mark. Editor: It’s true. But, I'm drawn in, too, by the imperfections! Those slightly smudged ink markings tell more of the real story. The little imperfections that almost suggest there is urgency of the message itself or of an emotional origin. Curator: Indeed! Consider the function of postcards in the late 19th century—the immediate dissemination of thoughts and news, without the formality of a letter. In this sense, the drawing transforms into a casual dispatch, which provides immediacy for viewers across the centuries. Editor: You've convinced me! From secretive to simply swift – or even a kind of early artistic "tweet"! Thinking of its original life circulating from hand to hand is charming to ponder today. Curator: Agreed! Hopefully the artwork revealed these connections between our contemporary life to the viewer. Editor: For sure. We never really leave some threads in the past. The card certainly carries within it the artist spirit—ever connected.