Briefkaart aan Philip Zilcken Possibly 1890 - 1899

This postcard was written by Eduard Karsen to Philip Zilcken in Amsterdam, likely in the late 19th or early 20th century. Its materials are simple: paper and ink, the everyday stuff of communication. Yet, even in this humble form, we see the importance of the means of production. The handwriting, with its elegant loops and flourishes, speaks to a culture of penmanship, where handwriting was an art form in itself, a skill taught and valued. The physical act of writing, the pressure of the pen on paper, imbued the message with a personal touch absent in today's digital communications. The postcard itself, a mass-produced object, reflects the rise of industrial capitalism and the increased accessibility of communication. This convergence of personal expression and mass production encapsulates the complex relationship between art, craft, and society. In a world of instant messaging, we can appreciate how the simple act of sending a handwritten postcard could carry a wealth of meaning.