Prentbriefkaart aan Willem Bogtman before 1929

This postcard of the Queen Mathilda Tapestry was made by Richard Nicolaüs Roland Holst at an unknown date and with unknown materials, but there’s something so appealing about the lack of specificity. It’s like Holst is saying, “Here, have a piece of history, but don’t get too hung up on the details.” The tapestry itself is a marvel, a stitched narrative of the Norman conquest of England. But what I find really interesting is how Holst has captured the essence of the tapestry in this small format. The colours are muted, the lines are simple, yet the drama of the story is still there. Look at the horses, for example. They’re not photorealistic, but they’re full of energy, galloping across the scene. And the figures, they’re stiff and formal, but they convey a sense of purpose, of destiny. It’s as if Holst is reminding us that art isn’t about perfection, it’s about capturing a feeling, a moment in time. I’m reminded of the work of Paul Klee, who also had a knack for simplifying complex ideas into childlike images. Both artists understood that sometimes the most profound statements are made with the simplest means.