Briefkaart aan Philip Zilcken Possibly 1913

This briefkaart, or postcard, was sent to Philip Zilcken by Willem van Konijnenburg in 1913, a humble piece of material culture. The card itself is modest: a rectangle of thin card stock, made by an anonymous paper mill, printed with the bare minimum of information needed to get it from one place to another. Yet, this unassuming object speaks volumes about the social and economic life of its time. The very existence of postcards signals a revolution in communication, made possible by advancements in industrial production and distribution. The printing of postage stamps and postal marks represents the mechanization of bureaucracy and the rise of state power. And, of course, the handwritten message hints at the personal connection between the sender and receiver, a reminder of the human element that persists even in an age of mass production. Considering this artifact through the lens of materials and making invites us to rethink distinctions between art and everyday life.