Briefkaart aan Jan Veth Possibly 1919

This vintage postcard, addressed to Jan Veth, is by E.J. Tanning, and feels like a little treasure of tactile communication. I wonder who Jan Veth was and what he was up to when he received it. Looking at the handwriting gives a sense of intimacy and connection. I imagine Tanning carefully forming each letter, perhaps pausing to consider the weight and pressure of the pen on the paper. What did they want to say? Maybe they were sharing thoughts, stories, or just a simple hello. I can almost feel the texture of the paper and the ink, imagining Tanning’s hand moving across the surface. The postmarks and stamps add another layer of history and context. Each mark represents a moment in time and a journey through space. In a time before email, so much consideration must have gone into correspondence and how the message would be received. I’m reminded of how artists like Cy Twombly and Dove Allouche use text as image, reminding us that all art forms are connected, and that artists build on the ideas of those who came before, inspiring new forms of creativity.