Briefkaart aan Philip Zilcken Possibly 1910 - 1916

Editor: So, we’re looking at "Briefkaart aan Philip Zilcken," potentially from 1910-1916, by Willem Byvanck. It seems to be a postcard, ink on paper, possibly with photography elements from the stamp and postmark. It's so unassuming, almost like a quick note. What catches your eye about it? Curator: I'm interested in this object less as a pure expression of artistic genius and more as a material artifact embedded within a network of social practices. Consider the postcard itself: a cheap, mass-produced item, readily available. Byvanck using it highlights how art and communication are interwoven with capitalist modes of production. Editor: Interesting. I hadn’t really thought of it like that. So, the materials speak to a specific socioeconomic context? Curator: Precisely. Ink, paper, printing, the postal system – all products of industrialization. This postcard facilitated communication across distances, but also participated in the broader system of commodity exchange and social interaction during its time. Do you think that challenges how we usually perceive “art”? Editor: I guess so. We often think of art as something precious and unique, not necessarily as an everyday object that anyone could use to send a message. Curator: Exactly! And what about the labour involved? From the factory workers producing the paper to the postal workers delivering the message, the act of sending this postcard involves an intricate web of human labor, often overlooked. Byvanck's simple postcard makes you consider social and industrial networks in this historical moment. Editor: This makes me see it so differently. It’s not just a drawing; it's a small piece of material culture with embedded stories about production, consumption and networks. Curator: Indeed. Next time, ask yourself about the networks behind the piece.