Briefkaart aan Philip Zilcken Possibly 1914 - 1919

Curator: What strikes me immediately is the sense of longing emanating from this little scrap of paper. Editor: You’re right; there’s something incredibly intimate about it. We're looking at "Briefkaart aan Philip Zilcken," or "Postcard to Philip Zilcken," believed to be from somewhere between 1914 and 1919 by Frans Erens. It’s rendered in ink, a simple drawing but incredibly detailed when you consider it’s just a postcard. Curator: Indeed. Think about the economics of postal service at the time. Who used postcards, and why? It would have been an accessible mode of communication. I am curious about the cost and availability of writing paper during the first world war period too, and how that factored into everyday correspondence habits. Editor: For me, it’s all about the hand lettering. I could get lost in that type all day, dreaming up stories about Philip Zilcken and old Den Haag. Do you imagine the handwriting speaks volumes about Erens? A controlled but casual touch that tells the story? Curator: Precisely. Consider the postal markings themselves – each stamp, each cancellation mark, is a trace of the complex systems required to facilitate communication. The materiality of it, from paper pulp to the ink used. There's such history imbued in everyday exchange, an ephemeral and often overlooked dimension. Editor: It makes me consider art that's destined to travel – an artwork meant for private eyes. Like sending a visual haiku across town. What secrets could that postcard possibly hold? Curator: What’s amazing about it is how art democratises communication, giving access through tools such as calligraphy. You create a new way of communicating ideas across time and space, and yet also connect to the everyday worker making these means accessible for all to write each other. Editor: So well put. It’s also like… a time capsule shrunk down to postcard size. Now I’m thinking about lost love letters and cryptic messages hidden between the lines. Curator: Well, let's hope this little piece finds a new way of whispering across time through our work. Editor: Here's to hoping, then, and the enduring power of ink, paper, and heartfelt sentiments.