Envelop aan Philip Zilcken Possibly 1911 - 1919

This envelope was written and sent by Jean-José Frappa, likely around 1919, to Philip Zilcken. It's a common paper envelope, marked with handwriting in ink, a stamp, and a postmark. The materials here are humble: paper, ink, glue. Consider too, the labor involved. Not only Frappa’s penmanship but also the industrial processes that made the paper and stamp possible. The postal system itself represents a massive, coordinated effort. The act of sending a letter seems simple, yet it's tied to wider social issues of labor, politics, and consumption. The envelope embodies the modern world, even in this small, intimate form. Paying attention to these details – the materials, the making, the context – allows us to understand more fully the meaning of what we see, and challenges the traditional distinction between fine art and everyday life.