Briefkaart aan Willem Bogtman Possibly 1926

This is a postcard addressed to Willem Bogtman, penned by Richard Nicolaüs Roland Holst using ink on paper, demonstrating the everyday intimacy of artistic correspondence. The card itself, mass-produced with the printed word "Briefkaart," speaks to the industrialized world, a contrast to the personal, handwritten message. Notice the handwriting: the pressure of the pen, the flow of the ink, and the character of the script. These are all traces of the maker's hand, contrasting with the card's printed elements. Roland Holst's written text transforms it into a unique artifact. Even the stamp, a small emblem of state-sponsored postal service, contributes to the card's narrative. While perhaps not considered a high art form, the postcard's inherent qualities of utility, coupled with its capacity for personal expression, blur the lines between the functional and the artistic. Roland Holst’s message turns a piece of everyday ephemera into a glimpse of human connection.