Tekstblad bij de prent van het beleg van Ieper, 1649 1649

This unassuming sheet of paper, created anonymously in 1649, uses ink applied via a printing press, a relatively new technology at the time. It's a legend, keyed to a printed depiction of the siege of Ypres. In two columns, the text lists locations and military units involved in the conflict, in both Flemish and French. The materials are humble, but their arrangement on the page speaks volumes. This isn't just about transmitting information; it’s about organizing knowledge for strategic purposes. Consider the labor involved: from the papermaker to the typesetter, to the press operator and distributor. Each contributed to the circulation of information that fueled the military campaign. The printing press itself, a product of industrializing Europe, here becomes a tool of war. This small piece of paper reminds us that even the most seemingly simple objects are embedded in complex social, economic, and political networks. It challenges the notion that fine art is somehow separate from the everyday realities of labor, politics, and consumption.