Prentbriefkaart aan Philip Zilcken Possibly 1914 - 1919

Editor: Here we have a postcard by Alphonse Stengelin, probably from between 1914 and 1919, created with ink on paper. The handwritten script gives it such an intimate, personal feel, but it's a little difficult to decipher! What stands out to you as you look at this image? Curator: This card is really evocative, isn’t it? I immediately notice the juxtaposition of languages, the Dutch postal stamp alongside the French text. In times of conflict, languages can become potent symbols of identity and allegiance. Do you see that here? Editor: I suppose so! It wasn't something I immediately considered, but it makes sense now that you mention it. So, this card sent during the war would have been like a little piece of culture being shared, right? Curator: Exactly. The handwriting itself acts as a kind of personal iconography, doesn’t it? Notice the elegant flourishes, the carefully formed letters. Each stroke is imbued with Stengelin’s individual character, almost like a signature even beyond his printed name. Do these stylistic details say something specific about the culture in which the card was crafted? Editor: Maybe that there was a great attention to detail? Curator: Yes, the deliberate artistry of the handwriting style definitely reflects particular cultural values of the period. And think about the image described in the text, "Lever de lune près Warmond" – moonrise near Warmond. It offers a momentary escape. Editor: So it's not just a postcard; it's a layered object carrying historical, personal, and artistic meaning. It’s like a little time capsule. Curator: Precisely. The image, the words, even the handwriting become interwoven symbols.