Briefkaart aan Philip Zilcken Possibly 1896

This is 'Briefkaart aan Philip Zilcken', a postcard sent by Gerlof van Vloten, though undated, it reflects a moment in the late 19th-century Netherlands. Van Vloten, positioned within a society undergoing significant change, uses the simple form of a postcard to communicate. The choice of sending a 'briefkaart', rather than a formal letter, speaks to evolving social dynamics, where the exchange of information becomes more accessible. The brief, handwritten message suggests an intimacy but also the constraints placed by social expectations on public expressions of emotion. What does it mean to choose a postcard over a letter? It’s a decision embedded in the nuances of class, gender, and the shifting landscape of personal communication. How does this seemingly mundane act of sending a postcard reflect the broader cultural currents of the time, and what personal stories remain hidden within its economy of words?