Briefkaart aan jonkheer Hendrik Teding van Berkhout (1879-1969) Possibly 1914 - 1930

This is "Briefkaart aan jonkheer Hendrik Teding van Berkhout" made by Herman Diederick Tjeenk Willink. The card's surface, aged and faintly discolored, acts as a canvas for an array of textual and postal markings. The structured layout divides the card into distinct zones: the sender’s details on the lower left, the address to the right, and the capitalized word "BRIEFKAART" centered on top, which immediately announces its function. We can see a semiotic play here between the sender and receiver, suggesting that a hierarchy is at play with the use of language and carefully measured space. What's interesting is how the stamp and postal markings are not just functional elements, but also compositional ones. Each adds a layer of meaning to the overall design. These markings create a visual language that speaks to the transient nature of communication and the physical journey of the message. This interplay transforms a simple card into a layered exploration of language, structure, and meaning.