Briefkaart aan Philip Zilcken before 1901

This is the back of a postcard to Philip Zilcken, penned by Roger Marx sometime around the turn of the 20th century. It is a humble artifact, yet it speaks volumes about the cultural milieu of its time. Marx, an influential art critic, lived in a society undergoing rapid transformation with new technologies for communication that shrank distances. As we consider this postcard, it's important to consider its materiality: its size and weight, the handwriting, and the stamps that marked its journey. All point to the intimacy and intentionality of personal correspondence in an era before instant digital communication. We can imagine Marx carefully choosing his words, knowing they would be physically carried across borders to reach Zilcken. The act of writing and sending a postcard was a conscious, physical expression of connection. As we gaze at this material artifact today, let us reflect on how our own relationships are shaped and mediated by technology.