Briefkaart aan Philip Zilcken Possibly 1905

This is a postcard, likely made around the turn of the 20th century by Jan Toorop. It's made of paper, of course – mass produced and printed with an address grid for ease of use. But pause for a moment, and consider that paper itself was once a precious material, made painstakingly by hand. The mass production of paper is intertwined with industrialization, and the expansion of the postal system, a network built for communication and commerce. You can see the printed text on the postcard in both Dutch and French. Look at the handwritten address, inscribed with ink, also a manufactured substance, yet bearing the mark of an individual hand. Even the stamp and postmark, so easily overlooked, speak volumes about systems of exchange and regulation. So, this simple piece of paper is a reminder that even the most humble objects are born of specific materials, processes, and systems of labor and consumption. Approaching artworks with these things in mind helps us to understand their cultural significance.