Briefkaart aan Jan Veth before 1888

This Briefkaart aan Jan Veth was sent by George Hendrik Breitner in 1887, likely from Amsterdam. It’s made from a simple piece of card, and the postal markings tell a story of industrial efficiency, using standardized fonts and machine-applied stamps. The card itself, though seemingly humble, speaks volumes about the changing nature of communication in the late 19th century. It highlights the contrast between the mechanization of the postal system, and the handwritten, personal message. You can see the traces of the sender's hand, in the penmanship, which connects us to the artist in an intimate way. The card is a reminder of the labor involved in communication before the digital age – from the production of the card itself, to the postal workers who physically transported it across the city. This piece blurs boundaries between the public and private, the mass-produced and the handmade, making us rethink traditional notions of fine art.