Briefkaart aan Pieter Haverkorn van Rijsewijk Possibly 1897

Carel Nicolaas Storm van 's-Gravesande made this postcard to Pieter Haverkorn van Rijsewijk, the director of Museum Boymans in Rotterdam, likely sometime around 1897. It offers us a glimpse into the institutional networks that shaped the art world at the turn of the century. The postcard itself, printed in Germany, highlights the increasing interconnectedness of Europe through the postal system. The formal language used: "Postkarte - Carte postale - Union postale universelle," reflects a growing sense of international cooperation. Yet, the handwritten message hints at a more personal relationship between artists and museum directors. The Rijksmuseum’s acquisition and preservation of everyday ephemera like this postcard underscores how institutional collecting practices shape our understanding of the past. Further research into the correspondence of Storm van 's-Gravesande and the records of Museum Boymans might reveal more about the cultural and social dynamics of the Dutch art world during this period.