Prentbriefkaart aan Willem Bogtman en mevrouw Bogtman before 1925

This postcard, sent by Richard Nicolaüs Roland Holst, presents a fascinating interplay between text and image. The handwritten message sprawls across the left side, contrasting with the structured lines designating space for correspondence. Two postage stamps anchor the composition on the upper right, their geometric forms providing a visual counterpoint to the cursive script. The stamps, small windows into French iconography, introduce color and graphic elements that subtly disrupt the monochrome surface. The materiality of the postcard—its paper texture and the smudges of ink—speak to its function as a means of communication. It destabilizes the traditional notion of a pristine artwork. Here, the act of writing, sending, and receiving becomes integral to the piece's meaning. The postcard transcends its utilitarian purpose, inviting us to reflect on the intersection of personal expression and public exchange, where text and image converge.