Briefkaart aan Philip Zilcken before 1887

This is a postcard from the late 19th century, addressed to Philip Zilcken, and sent from the Netherlands. It’s a mundane object, but it’s full of historical insight. Notice the official seal of the Dutch government. The postal system, like museums and galleries, was a key institution in the creation of national identity. Also, the handwritten address gives us a sense of a different pace of life, before email and social media. The postal markings tell us it was sent from The Hague in October 1891. We could research the postal service, and learn about its importance for commerce and communication. We could also learn about the history of The Hague in this period, and what was going on politically, economically, and culturally. As historians, we use such artifacts and archives to understand the social conditions that shape everyday life. This postcard reminds us that art is always contingent on its social and institutional context.