Joseph Beuys 'Holzpostkarte' wooden postcard multiple, 1974

This object is a 'Holzpostkarte' (Wooden Postcard), a multiple created by the influential German artist Joseph Beuys in 1974. Published by Edition Staeck in Heidelberg, this piece represents a characteristic intersection of Beuys' conceptual art practice, specifically his focus on 'Social Sculpture' and the use of everyday materials to convey artistic intent.

The object consists of a natural wood block that has been printed with minimalist black text and lines mimicking the layout of a standard postcard, including the word 'Postkarte' and the artist's details. The piece is housed within a clear frame, elevating the functional concept of a postcard into a formal sculptural work. Measuring 10.5 x 15.0 x 3.3 cm, the work is a manifestation of Beuys' engagement with Fluxus ideals, where the boundary between artistic medium and social object is blurred.

The work functions as a physical artifact of his broader artistic output, demonstrating his minimalist aesthetic approach to multiple production and conceptual communication within the sphere of post-war contemporary art.