Briefkaart aan Philip Zilcken Possibly 1892 - 1894

This is a briefkaart, or postcard, addressed to Philip Zilcken, penned by Willem de Zwart. The card presents a structured hierarchy of textual and symbolic elements. The printed words 'BRIEFKAART' are rendered in a formal, block-letter typeface, centrally positioned at the top, asserting the card's primary function as a mode of communication. Above and to either side are purple insignia. A crowned heraldic shield, possibly a royal emblem, sits to the left, while a postmark, canceling a stamp, is placed to the right. The handwritten address and salutation, executed in a cursive script, introduce a layer of personal expression, contrasting with the rigidity of the printed text. This interplay between the printed and the handwritten invites us to consider how standardized forms become personalized through individual expression. Ultimately, the postcard functions as a coded artifact, where each visual element serves as a signifier within a larger cultural system. The card is not merely a means of delivering a message but a structured composition which also communicates social and historical information.