Briefkaart aan Philip Zilcken before 1893

This is a postcard sent to Philip Zilcken by Richard Nicolaüs Roland Holst in 1893. The materials are simple: paper stock, ink, and adhesive for the stamp, yet the postcard's very existence speaks to a world rapidly changing due to industrialization and increased consumerism. Notice the printed text "Briefkaart," which standardizes communication, turning personal correspondence into a mass-produced commodity. The handwritten message and address, however, add a layer of intimacy, a personal touch amidst the efficiency of the postal service. The stamps, produced en masse with detailed engraving, speak of a national project, of unity and exchange across distances. The humble postcard offers insight into late 19th-century society, where advances in manufacturing and distribution intersect with individual expression and artistic networks. It reminds us that even the most mundane objects can reveal the complex interplay between craft, design, and the forces of production that shape our world.