Briefkaart aan Philip Zilcken Possibly 1899

This "Briefkaart aan Philip Zilcken" was made by Gerlof van Vloten using paper, ink, and the postal system. It's not just the words written, but also the material reality of this postcard that matters. Notice the stamp, the postmark, and the printed word “Briefkaart.” This wasn’t just a matter of Van Vloten sitting down to write. He was participating in a whole system of communication, a complex industrial and social network. The paper was pulped and pressed, the ink manufactured, the printing mechanized. Each of these steps involved labor, costs, and a particular political economy. Even the handwriting, with its loops and flourishes, has a material quality to it. It shows the direct physical action of the author setting pen to paper. So, next time you see a humble postcard, remember it's not just an image and a message. It's a product of its time, made possible by a vast web of materials, processes, and human effort. It challenges us to consider how much labor and material goes into our everyday forms of communication.