Grafschrift en uitnodiging voor de begrafenis van Johannes Bannink Possibly 1787

Curator: Here we have “Grafschrift en uitnodiging voor de begrafenis van Johannes Bannink," or "Epitaph and Invitation to the Funeral of Johannes Bannink," possibly from 1787, by an anonymous artist. It's ink on paper. Editor: Immediately, I'm drawn to the lettering—a swirl of elegant calligraphy. The density of the text creates such a formal feeling. It’s an official notice rendered with intense personal craft. Curator: Indeed, this exemplifies Dutch Golden Age typography, where calligraphy elevates even the most commonplace document. You've picked up on the intimacy amidst the formality—it speaks volumes, doesn’t it? Look closely; beyond the announcement, it gestures toward a whole life and community. Editor: The materiality fascinates me. Ink and paper - ubiquitous and accessible, yet here they are, transformed into a memorial. Think about the hand that penned this. What was the labour like? What were the trade networks for paper and ink at this time? It transforms the act of announcement to something more...monumental. Curator: Exactly! The act of memorializing, transforming grief into art. And notice how the careful layout creates a visual hierarchy, subtly guiding the reader. It’s not just about legibility but about emotional impact through design. You almost hear the somber tone. Editor: The social context here is crucial. An invitation wasn't just paper—it was a network, an economic and material reality linking artist, printer, family and friends and neighbors in their grief, loss, and the economic engine that supports it all. It really makes one consider mortality beyond just individual loss. Curator: So, a simple piece of paper becomes a window into 18th-century Amsterdam. Editor: Right, where artistry and social function blend, forcing us to re-evaluate value itself, material and emotional.