Briefkaart aan Philip Zilcken

This is a postcard to Philip Zilcken by Jan de Waardt, though undated, the postal stamps help us place it around the turn of the century. The act of sending a postcard itself was a relatively new phenomenon. The democratization of mail, and the simultaneous rise of literacy created a new form of intimate, mass communication. As we look at the handwriting of the message we might consider how the message is as important as the medium. The care, and specificity of the address reflects the intimacy of the exchange. The card is addressed to Philip Zilcken, care of Hélène, at their villa. Consider the emotional value of receiving such a card, a personal touch amidst the growing mechanization of society. It speaks to a desire for connection and intimacy, as the world modernizes around it. It invites us to think about the enduring need for human connection.