Briefkaart aan Philip Zilcken before 1891

Here is the back of a briefkaart, or postcard, sent by Suze Robertson to Philip Zilcken likely in the late 19th or early 20th century. The card itself is made of processed paper, designed for mass communication. We see this in the printed text ‘Briefkaart’ and the pre-printed stamp box. Yet the handwritten address and the sender’s name transforms this humble object. Robertson, known for her sympathetic depictions of working-class life, here engages with the very means by which lives were connected within industrializing society. The act of writing on this card personalizes an otherwise standardized form, connecting the world of art with the daily life and labor of its participants. It’s a reminder that even the most seemingly mundane materials can carry profound social and personal significance. Understanding how this briefkaart was made, and the context of its use, gives us a richer appreciation of the artist and her world. It challenges the division between fine art and the everyday expressions of life.