Prentbriefkaart aan Philip Zilcken Possibly 1918

This postcard was made by Anna Francina Margaretha van Wijngaarden-Boot, circa 1911, probably in the Netherlands. It’s an everyday object that transcends its original function, offering us a glimpse into the social customs of the time. The handwritten note and formal address show a society that values personal connection and correspondence, while also observing social niceties. The Rotterdam postmark and Dutch stamp point to a highly developed postal system, a key feature of early 20th-century life that allowed for greater communication and social mobility. The text itself is a window into the writer's social life and daily routines, providing rich data for social historians. To fully understand this piece, we might research the lives of the artist, the recipient, and other individuals mentioned in the letter to understand how these lives fit into the broader social and political landscapes of the Netherlands at the time. This will enable us to better understand the meaning of such a commonplace object as a postcard.