Briefkaart aan Philip Zilcken Possibly 1920 - 1928

This "Briefkaart aan Philip Zilcken" was made by Adriaan Pit, using paper, ink, and the postal system. Consider the material reality of this artifact. It is made from mass-produced paper, printed with a standardized design, and marked with a stamp—all elements of a complex system of communication and exchange. The handwritten message transforms it, however, adding a layer of personal expression to the otherwise impersonal format. The postal system itself is a product of industrialization and bureaucratic organization, relying on networks of transportation, sorting, and delivery. It's a system that connects people across distances, facilitating the flow of information and ideas. This postcard, then, is not just a message but an artifact embedded in the social and economic structures of its time. The act of writing, sending, and receiving this postcard represents a form of labor and a mode of consumption. It speaks to the ways in which everyday activities are intertwined with broader systems of production and exchange. By attending to these material and social dimensions, we gain a richer understanding of the artwork's significance.