Joseph Beuys (1921-1986) was a German artist, teacher, and art theorist who is regarded as one of the most influential artists of the second half of the 20th century. Beuys’ work is grounded in the transformative and guided by the principle of art’s ability to heal through its psychological, social, and/or political subject matter. Core also is the concept that art, common materials, and one's "everyday life" are ultimately inseparable. Because he believed every aspect of life could be considered art and every human being an artist, Beuys signed everything. For Beuys, signing was a creative act that contributed to his concept of "social sculpture.”

The wood postcard alludes to Beuys' interest in reconnecting humanity with nature. Because the postcard is made of a natural substance, and believing spiritual energies can be found in nature, for Beuys the postcard passes these energies on to the people who send and receive it.