Briefkaart aan Jan Veth Possibly 1890 - 1897

This is a briefkaart, or postcard, that Jac van Looij sent to Jan Veth on July 12th, 1890. In it we can observe the way that the artist's hand is directly present in this work. The postcard presents a formal structure imposed by the state through the postal service: an area for the address, a stamp, and national seal, and a printed definition of the object as a 'briefkaart.' Yet van Looij manipulates this bureaucratic form through his handwriting. Jan Veth was not only an artist but also an art critic and historian, who helped to shape the art world of the Netherlands at this time. As historians, we can ask what role the postal service and other bureaucratic institutions play in the art world. By studying the correspondence of artists like van Looij and Veth we can begin to understand the social networks and communities that form the background to the art of their time.