Briefkaart aan Jan Veth Possibly 1884 - 1887

This is a postcard to Jan Veth, written by Willem Witsen, in Amsterdam in 1884. The Netherlands in the late 19th century was a society undergoing rapid modernisation, with a growing art world that was defining itself against the backdrop of traditional artistic values. The image speaks to the development of postal systems and the rise of mass communication in the late 19th century. Note the stamps, the postmarks, and the printed word "BRIEFKAART." These all point to a society that was becoming increasingly interconnected. The handwritten address and signature, remind us that this was still a world of personal connections, and that the art world relied on these networks. The Rijksmuseum would have collected this as an example of the everyday visual culture of the time. To fully understand this image, we might consult postal archives, art world biographies, and historical studies of communication technologies. Only by considering the social and institutional contexts can we fully appreciate the meaning of this humble postcard.