Bericht over de vlucht van de patriotten uit Utrecht, 1787 1789

This broadside, printed in 1787 by Albert Corbelyn, reports on the flight of the Patriots from Utrecht due to the approaching Prussian troops. The stark, urgent typography signals a moment of crisis. It is reminiscent of earlier proclamations or pamphlets from the Reformation. This act of disseminating critical information evolved from town criers to printed broadsides, and now finds new life in digital forms. The choice of a readily accessible medium reveals an intention to disseminate a specific message, with the goal of swaying popular belief. Consider the psychological weight of this act: a public declaration meant to evoke a visceral reaction, triggering feelings of defiance, fear, or solidarity, a potent force engaging viewers on a subconscious level. The cycle continues, as each generation reinterprets and repurposes these forms of communication.