Briefkaart aan Philip Zilcken before 1899

This is an image of a postcard to Philip Zilcken, dating from around 1929 and written by the Dutch artist Albert Plasschaert. Postcards can tell us so much about social and cultural life, and the institutions which govern it. Consider, for example, the postal markings on this card which indicate its journey between Leiden and The Hague. Note the cost of postage at this time, indicated by the stamp, and the Royal crest which symbolizes the state's authority over communication. We can learn about social and cultural exchange by researching the identities of both Plasschaert and Zilcken. The role of the historian is to look at the cultural context in which art is made and received. By accessing archives and collections of letters, photographs, and printed ephemera we can bring the past to life.