Briefkaart aan Jan Veth Possibly 1891 - 1896

M.C. Lebret created this postcard to Jan Veth using ink on paper. The pale blue and off-white card is bisected by bold, dark cursive script. This dominates the visual space, layered with cancellations and official postal stamps. The composition uses written language as its primary form, challenging traditional notions of what constitutes a visual artwork. Lebret destabilizes the conventional separation between text and image. The postal marks, rather than detracting from the message, become integral to the piece's aesthetic. They function as semiotic markers of time, place and bureaucratic process. The postal elements contribute to the overall texture, contrasting with the flowing lines of the handwriting. Ultimately, the piece invites us to consider how everyday objects and communications can be re-evaluated through a formal lens. It pushes the boundaries of art by foregrounding process and function over purely aesthetic concerns. The simple act of sending a postcard transforms into a commentary on communication, materiality, and the very definition of art.