Museum of Montserrat - EN

The use of postcards —although in decline, still in practice— was and has been common as a travel souvenir or as a simple token of presence for close friends. Their origin dates back to the mid-19th century as an inexpensive alternative to letters, intended for sending brief, concise messages, primarily of greetings or expressions of friendship. They quickly gained popularity, and demand for them grew considerably.

At the end of the 19th century and throughout the 20th century, many artists dedicated their talent to designing these cards. The golden age of the postcard coincided with Art Nouveau at the turn of the century and stimulated a remarkable passion, especially among women, for collecting this type of printed material, leading to the creation of deltiology societies. Mrs. Carreras-Candi was an exceptional collector who bequeathed a collection of nearly 30,000 pieces of ephemera to the Museum of Montserrat.

We present a selection of fifteen postcards, one of which was sent to the painter Laura Albéniz, daughter of the composer and close friend of Carme Carreras-Candi. These consist of two series: one created by Alphonse Mucha and the other designed by the illustrator Kieszkow.

Alphonse Mucha (Ivančice, Moravia, 24 July 1860 – Prague, 14 July 1939) was a Czech painter and graphic artist, widely recognized as one of the leading exponents of Art Nouveau, particularly for his poster designs.

Angel Kieszkow: Draughtsman and illustrator of the late 19th and early 20th centuries.

Josep de C. Laplana and Bernat Puigdollers
Museum of Montserrat