Briefkaart aan Philip Zilcken Possibly 1901 - 1913

Here is a briefkaart, or postcard, addressed to Philip Zilcken, created by Anton L. Koster. The postcard itself, with its stamp and postmark from the Hague, is an artifact of early 20th century Dutch society, suggesting a time when personal communication relied heavily on postal services. The handwriting is an example of the penmanship expected within the educated classes. This system of communication allowed for the circulation of images and ideas but it also depended upon institutions like the postal service. This postcard, like all historical documents, becomes most meaningful when we investigate its social and cultural context. What was the nature of Koster and Zilcken's relationship? What images or words appeared on the other side of the card? Only through archival research might we understand the everyday life and artistic networks of the Netherlands at this time. By studying such ephemera, we can understand the meaning of art as something inseparable from its institutional context.