Dutch painter and 100 years of UPU

The World Postal Union (Universal Postal Union) was founded in 1874. In 1974, the UPU therefore existed for 100 years, and many countries commemorated the hundredth anniversary by issuing one or more stamps. The Netherlands also issued a stamp designed by Tel Design AssociatedWith an image of hands passing an empty envelope from which a hand protruded. Around the world. Other countries looked to postal means of transport, images of stamps, postmarks, mailboxes, and so on.

The United States issued a series of no fewer than eight stamps centering on the letter. The series appeared on June 6, 1974, and was printed cohesively in a block. The letter was highlighted in a very special way by depicting paintings by well-known and lesser-known artists. Painters such as Francis Goya from Spain, Thomas gainsborough from England and Jean-Étienne Liotard  from Switzerland (every collector of Dutch stamps knows it, right? From the stamp in the 200 Years of the Rijksmuseum block with the image of a woman in Turkish attire).

But a Dutch painter has also been immortalized on a postage stamp with one of his paintings: Gerard Ter Borch or Terborch. It is a woman writing a letter. Gerard ter Borch (1617-1681) was a contemporary of Johannes Vermeer and one of the most important painters of the seventeenth century. The painting from 1655 is in the possession of the Mauritshuis in The HagueThe painting is not very large, only 39 by 29 cm, and painted in oil on a small panel. Gerard ter Borch was born in Zwolle and passed away in DeventerHe learned the painting trade from his father, Gerard ter Borch the Elder. It is striking that many letters are received, read, written, and folded shut in his paintings.

Paintings in which the letter takes center stage also appear on Dutch postage stamps. These are three stamps by Johannes Vermeer, issued on February 27, 1996. Paintings on postage stamps, a beautiful theme!