At its height around 1900, postcard mania captured major historical and cultural themes through miniature canvasses: urban life, evolving gender roles and new technologies were all depicted on these postcards along with trends in architecture, fashion and advertising.

Postcards serve as a powerful “social archive”, replicating photographic images and text across time, space and use. This exhibition examines these cards with special focus on their material and discursive processes that make up cultures of circulation.

The Story of Postcards

Postcards are inexpensive souvenirs that allow travelers to share their adventures and discoveries with loved ones who could not travel along. Postcards were among the earliest forms of global social media, offering users a way to swap images of exotic places, typical or famous people, events near and far, and daily life – providing a window into global cultures at different moments and providing insights into those producing and using postcards themselves. Postcards produced, consumed, collected in vast numbers across the world — providing a fascinating snapshot into culture at that particular time — offering insights into ideas projected by those producing and using these cards at that particular moment in history – providing insights into cultures at that particular moment as well as into individuals’ own ideas and emotions projecting from them!

This exhibition draws upon Lauder Archive postcards to highlight key historical and cultural topics from 1900 at the height of postcard mania: urban life as depicted by Emile Combaz; changing roles for women; sports; celebrity culture; new technologies and World War I are some examples. Card publishers sought to produce postcards that were both visually pleasing and souvenir-marketed, using special printing techniques which imitated paintings or photographs for maximum souvenir value.

Postcard production involved many individuals from Europe and India – photographers and their apprentices as well as German and British printers, department store sellers, bookbinders – among them European photographers, Indian photographers, German and British printers, department store sellers, bookbinders. Yet postcard consumption was predominantly European (as evidenced by vernacular Indian languages being uncommon on postcards but most addresses and messages being in English-language addresses or messages). Disasters occurring near regions with political or financial interests received more frequent postcard depictions; other events, like 1920 Haiyuan (Gansu) earthquake or 1906 Valparaiso earthquake were seldom depictions due to limited representation or coverage in postcards despite having significant human tolls.

The Art of Postcards

Postcards were one of the primary forms of communication during a brief period during the nineteenth century. Unlike promotional insert cards that dominated business advertising after the American Civil War, postcards were purchased directly by consumers for personal interest in either subject matter or design – making them precursors to today’s greeting and note cards.

Many artists throughout the twentieth century utilized postcards as an accessible medium to explore issues of scale, cropping, and communication. Amy Davidy captured commuters writing messages to friends and family via public transportation in her series Subway Writers; these prints bear signature creases as though from Amy to you via mail delivery.

Nate Smith of Kinfolk group recently recorded a modern jazz album for Ropeadope Records entitled Postcards from Everywhere featuring original compositions as well as his core ensemble composed of pianist Kris Bowers, guitarist Jeremy Most and Jaleel Shaw on alto/soprano saxophone/alto sax/backing vocalist Amma Whatt and Michael Mayo sax.

The History of Postcards

Postcards were first developed during the 19th century as an inexpensive means of sending short, inexpensive messages through the mail. Historians estimate that 200 billion postcards circulated during just two decades of the 20th century alone! As their popularity grew, publishers experimented with different themes and designs before technological advancements brought dazzling postcards depicting tourist spots and famous landmarks to everyone’s doorsteps.

Charles W. Goldsmith created official postcards to commemorate the World’s Columbian Exposition in Chicago in 1893 and sold them as souvenirs, marking a first for commercially printed postcards that could be purchased as such rather than sent through postal systems with messages attached as government-issued postal cards.

Ten years later, in 1905, postcard mania reached staggering levels. It was the golden age for postcard publishers – each town having one who produced cards of breathtaking quality for collectors’ albums on parlor tables or sun porches.

At its height, postcard collecting was not only for aesthetic reasons but also as an affordable means to stay connected with friends and family in distant parts. Many formed clubs where people traded postcards with like-minded individuals from all around the globe; making the world seem that much smaller!

The Future of Postcards

Since online printing technology has transformed publishing, postcards have increasingly been replaced by digital alternatives like Postagram apps which enable users to select photos directly from their phone and send them as digital postcards directly.

This method presents both advantages and challenges. It can be difficult to differentiate original postcards from copies, record their data such as printing date and location as well as its author – an issue made more complex by online sellers who may lack the same ethical data practices of historians, librarians or archivists, potentially cropping or altering images on each side of a card.

Concerns have also been expressed over how these apps democratize postcard creation, potentially creating an abundance of postcards with little connection or meaning to those making them. Digital or traditional, postcards serve as snapshots from journeys taken and recall memories associated with family, friends, and places visited.

The future of postcards remains unclear, with experts projecting that postcards may see a resurgence as more people travel around to explore its natural beauty and culture – yet these experiences may contribute to climate change, strain local economies, or threaten fragile environments. These whimsical postcards from the future seek to raise awareness and spark conversations on how best to shape travel landscapes that combine aesthetic pleasure with responsible practices for sustainable and resilient planet.