Tekst bij portret van marineofficier Aert Jansz. van Nes Possibly 1805 - 1825

This text, now in the collection of the Rijksmuseum, was printed in 1805; its creator was Johannes Christiaan Bendorp. The materiality of this object is fundamental to its meaning. As a print, it was a relatively efficient means of distributing images and information. This example is a notice regarding another portrait of Aert Jansz. van Nes, a naval officer. The text explains that its release has been delayed due to the engraver's illness. Consider the labor involved: not only the engraver's skill in translating an image to a repeatable format, but also the typesetter's work, and the press operator who made the impressions. All were vital to the distribution of knowledge and visual culture in the 19th century. The finished notice is more than just a message. It encapsulates a whole network of production and consumption, reminding us of the many hands involved in even the simplest printed matter.