Briefkaart aan Alphons Diepenbrock Possibly 1893

This is a postcard to Alphons Diepenbrock by Jan Veth, likely dating from the late 19th century, now residing in the Rijksmuseum collection. Veth was a man of letters, an artist, and an intellectual deeply embedded in the cultural milieu of the Netherlands. This small piece offers an intimate glimpse into the societal structures of the time. As a document addressed to Diepenbrock, a well-regarded composer, it reflects the cultural networks and intellectual exchanges amongst the Dutch elite. The handwritten script speaks to a time before mass communication, when personal correspondence was a tactile, intimate act. It is a humble, mundane object, yet it quietly testifies to the significance of communication in the formation of artistic identity and community. The fact that it has been preserved invites us to consider the value we place on historical artifacts and the stories they tell about our shared past.