Briefkaart aan Philip Zilcken before 1889

This is an undated postcard addressed to Philip Zilcken by Elbert Jan van Wisselingh. The composition is dominated by the handwritten address, its calligraphic strokes creating a dynamic interplay with the printed text. The texture of the paper, aged and lightly discolored, adds a layer of tactile experience to the visual. Note how the artist organizes space through linguistic signs. The word "BRIEFKAART" serves not just as a label but as a structural element, dividing the upper register of official stamps and seals from the lower register of the handwritten address. Van Wisselingh's signature at the bottom anchors the composition, acting as both a formal closure and an assertion of personal expression within the constraints of postal communication. The postcard, therefore, transcends its utilitarian function, becoming a site where personal and bureaucratic codes intersect. It invites us to consider how even the most mundane objects can be imbued with aesthetic and cultural significance.