Briefkaart aan Philip Zilcken before 1918

This is the back of a postcard, addressed to Philip Zilcken, and sent by Rose Imel sometime in the early 20th century. The handwriting is elegant, but the postmarks and stamp give it such a sense of layered history, don't they? I think about this as a process, from the moment it was written, to the journey it took to reach its destination. It's pale brown colour reminds me of sepia photographs and of course the printed text in a slightly darker tone. These material aspects, the texture of the card itself, and the faded ink all contribute to a sense of nostalgia, like holding a fragment of a bygone era. The address, carefully written, with its flourishes and loops, makes me think of a time when letter writing was an art form, and when personal correspondence was cherished. It makes you wonder what news, or message of love, lay on the other side. Who was Rose Imel? What was her relationship to Philip Zilcken? These kinds of ambiguities are like openings in the artwork, inviting me to get lost within its world.