Tekst uit het evangelie van Matteüs c. 1530

This is a page from the Gospel of Matthew, printed by Doen Pietersz., although we don’t know exactly when. Look closely, and you’ll see that it is an example of early printing. The texture of the heavy paper stock is a testament to its handmade origins. The crisp, uniform black lettering is the result of the printing press. Each letter was carefully set in a frame, inked, and then pressed onto the page. This process, though revolutionary for its time, still demanded considerable manual labor. We can imagine teams of artisans working diligently to produce these books, balancing mechanization with traditional craftsmanship. The choice of a dense, blocky typeface speaks to the desire for clarity and uniformity, values that align with the burgeoning print culture of the era. It signifies a shift towards standardized knowledge and mass communication, with these books reflecting a new relationship between labor, religion, and the mass distribution of knowledge.