Briefkaart aan Willem Bogtman 1920 - 1938

Curator: At first glance, this small work, “Briefkaart aan Willem Bogtman,” presents itself as a casual missive from Richard Nicolaüs Roland Holst, dating between 1920 and 1938, part of the Rijksmuseum collection. Editor: It has such a nostalgic air, doesn’t it? It reminds me of those postcards you find tucked away in antique shops—ephemeral messages hinting at untold stories, with that old handwriting… sort of haunting, isn't it? Curator: Yes, a seemingly simple message on paper. But it’s layered. Holst was a fascinating figure; deeply embedded in the Dutch symbolism movement. Even on a personal card like this, we can detect the influence. Postcards then were more than just quick greetings. Editor: So you are saying the handwriting has more meaning? It feels intimate. Curator: Precisely! The way he has drawn the lettering with such confidence, while still capturing an emotional tone in the way he dots his 'i's, reflects the kind of intimate language associated with handwritten communication that you just don't see these days. Editor: The stamps are charming too. Those graphic green figures. There’s something very assertive about them, sitting just at the top corner of the address as if they are soldiers or watchers from a building Curator: Stamps can be cultural icons. What’s striking is their uniformity but also their ability to function as more than functional postage and become graphic objects Editor: What intrigues me is what wasn’t said. What kind of reply did this generate? What sort of occasion warranted the two postage stamps, a letter to F. Bogtman at Emmakade 45 in Harlem. I find myself filling in gaps. Curator: Exactly. Consider that paper was a precious commodity and handwriting demonstrated skills not available to the wider world, even through printing was emerging, each personalized note carried the echo of privilege. This is no quick text; it’s considered communication. Editor: I feel a pang of sadness, actually. Such transient, beautiful artifacts connecting us to those individual lives across time. Thank you. Curator: Thank you, too. It’s easy to overlook the everyday, but it often holds the deepest stories.