Briefkaart aan Jan Veth Possibly 1890

This briefkaart, or postcard, addressed to Jan Veth by Eduard Karsen, is made of paper, a seemingly simple material, yet deeply connected to the rise of mass communication. The postcard itself is an artifact of a rapidly industrializing world, where advances in printing and postal systems enabled quick, cheap correspondence. Look closely at the surface - the slight sheen hints at a coating, likely applied by machine. Note the printed lines designating space for the address, a subtle element that speaks to standardization and efficiency. The purple postage stamp is a clue: these were printed en masse to pre-pay for the increasingly pervasive postal service. Consider the labor involved in making the paper, printing the card, and delivering it. The marks of the postal system, the stamps, denote the route. While it may seem insignificant, this unassuming piece of paper tells a larger story about the changing landscape of work, communication, and consumption at the turn of the 20th century. It asks us to reconsider the value we place on the everyday objects that shape our lives.