Briefkaart aan Philip Zilcken before 1889

This is a postcard made by Catharina Alberdingk Thijm in 1887, likely of paper. It shows the technologies and practices of communication in the late 19th century, when industrialization made paper and printing more accessible, creating a surge in postal correspondence. Consider the processes involved: paper production, stamp printing, and the physical act of handwriting, each imparting a unique texture and feel. The stamps mark its journey, linking sender and receiver through a network of labor and infrastructure. Notice the handwriting, which is beautiful and graceful, but also indicative of the labor required to learn and maintain the skill of penmanship. The card’s ephemerality, designed for quick transit and disposal, contrasts with the care taken in its creation and delivery. So even in something as seemingly simple as a postcard, we find evidence of complex economic systems and individual expression, questioning our traditional hierarchies of value and skill.