Briefkaart aan Philip Zilcken Possibly 1890 - 1893

This postcard was made in 1890 by Taco Mesdag, and sent to Philip Zilcken, presumably using industrially produced paper. You can see the pre-printed "BRIEFKAART" and faint lines, indicating a society rapidly embracing mass communication. The printing process itself is interesting. Look closely, and you’ll see evidence of the mechanization of sending messages, including the purple stamp, indicating the fee has been paid, alongside the postal mark. These marks, created by engraved metal dies, reflect the rise of administrative technologies to sort mail across long distances, and the ability to distribute images widely. Mesdag's elegant handwriting is a personal touch, adding a sense of intimacy to this commercial product, showing that art and everyday life are not so far apart. The card is a reminder that even the simplest objects can tell us a lot about the social and cultural context in which they were made. Hopefully, by considering these aspects, we can move beyond traditional definitions of art and craft.