Briefkaart aan Philip Zilcken Possibly 1892

Eduard Karsen produced this postcard to Philip Zilcken, probably around 1892, using paper and ink. Before the digital age, correspondence relied on materials like this: humble paper stock, transformed by typography and handwriting into a vessel for communication. The stamps, the postal markings – these details speak volumes about the infrastructure of communication in the late 19th century. It was a world of physical networks, where personal connection relied on the reliable functioning of systems of labor. Consider the papermaking, the printing of the indicia, the manual sorting and delivery of mail – a whole chain of human effort lies behind this simple artifact. And, of course, the very act of writing itself, a skillful and personal gesture now largely replaced by digital means. By considering these elements, we recognize the deep connections between communication, labor, and social context, challenging any perceived hierarchy between the fine arts and the everyday.