Briefkaart aan Philip Zilcken Possibly 1899

This postcard to Philip Zilcken, penned by Georges Eekhoud, carries within it the silent language of a bygone era. Note the circular postal stamps, each a small, potent symbol of connection and transition. Consider the circle—a motif as old as time itself—evident not only in these stamps but echoed in countless symbols throughout history. From ancient sun disks representing life and vitality to the cyclical nature of time itself, the circle embodies continuity and wholeness. Yet here, these circles are interrupted, marked with dates and locations, transforming them into signifiers of a specific moment, a pinpoint in the vast tapestry of time. Such symbols evoke a deep, subconscious recognition, speaking to our collective memory of communication and the ephemeral nature of human connection. We glimpse the yearning to bridge distances, both physical and temporal. This postcard, then, is not merely a message but a poignant emblem of human longing. It reminds us that these symbols reappear, evolving, carrying echoes of our shared past into the unfolding future.