Briefkaart aan Philip Zilcken Possibly 1895 - 1896

This Briefkaart aan Philip Zilcken was produced by Johannes de Koo, likely in the 1890s, using commercially printed cardstock, ink, and handwriting. Consider how the mass production of such cards enabled communication, yet simultaneously flattened personal expression. The card’s design, with its pre-printed lines and formal typeface, sets a stage for a carefully scripted message, while the handwriting introduces a personal touch. The postal stamps and markings further highlight the card’s journey through a complex system of labor and logistics. The very act of handwriting seems almost anachronistic against the backdrop of industrial printing and postal automation. De Koo’s inscription, with its loops and careful spacing, represents a moment of human interaction within a rapidly mechanizing world. By acknowledging the labor and infrastructure embedded in this seemingly simple card, we recognize the profound social and economic forces shaping even the most intimate exchanges.